Golden Chanterelle
Cantharellus cibarius
Summary 2
Cantharellus cibarius, commonly known as the chanterelle, golden chanterelle or girolle, is a fungus. It is probably the best known species of the genus Cantharellus, if not the entire family of Cantharellaceae. It is orange or yellow, meaty and funnel-shaped. On the lower surface, underneath the smooth cap, it has gill-like ridges that run almost all the way down its stipe, which tapers down seamlessly from the cap. It has a fruity smell, reminiscent of apricots...
NorthernBushCraft 3
cap is up to 15cm wide, depressed in the center, smooth, dry, uniform egg-yolk yellow.
mature specimen is funnel shaped, immature specimens should be avoided.
forking ridges (rib-like folds) are present rather than gills; they descend onto the stem.
flesh is firm, yellowish, does does not change color when bruised.
stem is solid, orange tinted, tapering slightly to the base.
grows solitary or in groups on the ground, but not clustered at base of trees, and never on wood.
appears in the summer and fall.
has a pleasant, mild taste and mild, fruity odor; cook before eating.
an edible look-alike is the Smooth chanterelle (Cantharallus lateritis), which is similar in appearance but grows under oaks, has a pinkish hue and reduced ridges.
warning: do not confuse with the poisonous False Chantarelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca), has gills rather than ridges, often grown on decaying wood, tastes foul and causes stomach upset.
warning: do not confuse with the poisonous Jack-O'Lantern Fungus (Omphalotus illudens), which grows in large clusters on roots, stumps, or at the base of trees and has an unpleasantly sweet odor.
Sources and Credits
- (c) Paul, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/65724059@N00/3810959315
- Adapted by Doug Kilby from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantharellus_cibarius
- (c) Doug Kilby, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
