Shiitake Shiitake The shiitake (; Lentinula edodes) is an edible mushroom native to East Asia, which is cultivated and consumed in many Asian countries. It is considered a medicinal mushroom in some forms of traditional medicine. The fungus was first described scientifically as "Agaricus edodes" by Miles Joseph Berkeley in 1877. It was placed in the genus "Lentinula" by David Pegler in 1976. The fungus has acquired an extensive synonymy in its taxonomic history: The mushroom's Japanese name is composed of , for the tree "Castanopsis cuspidata" that provides the dead logs on which it is typically cultivated, and . The
What Is It? What Is It? What Is It? is a 2005 American surrealist film written, edited, co-produced and directed by Crispin Glover. It stars Crispin Glover and Fairuza Balk and Steven C. Stewart. As of 2008, the film has only been shown at independent theaters, typically accompanied by a question-and-answer session, a one-hour dramatic narration of eight different profusely illustrated books as a slideshow, and a meet-and-greet/book signing with Glover. "What Is It?" is the first entry in a planned trilogy directed by Glover, followed by "It Is Fine! Everything Is Fine." and continued with "It Is Mine". The "adventures" of a