Pleurotus djamor has become known for its variability in basidiome color an
d stature. To quantify the breadth of phenetic plasticity within the specie
s, over 40 P-1 collections or dikaryon cultures of putative P. djamor from
Asia and America were examined. Thirty-two strains were fruited, from which
20 collections were chosen for combined analyses, including phenetic analy
ses for qualitative and quantitative characters and sexual compatibility te
sts. Two types of compatibility tests proved all selected collections were
compatible, and phenetic analyses showed no significant clustering power us
ing macro- or micromorphological characters. F-1 hybrid basidiomata were pr
oduced and viable F-1 basidiospores obtained. F-1 hybrid basidiomata were u
npredictable for color, and basidiome color intensity was reduced under "st
andardized" fruiting conditions. The species appeared to be pantropical, va
rying within acceptable infraspecific bounds except for basidiome color, wh
ich was not linked to geographic origin, other morphological characters, or
light intensity during basidiome ontogeny.