Identification of Chanterelle Mushrooms

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Proper identification of chanterelle mushrooms is crucial if you want to start harvesting

them from the wild. There are poisonous false species; so making a mistake could lead
to a miserable intestinal adventure.

Yet don't let that scare you off! With practice, chanterelle identification will become
easier. You'll start to clearly see how they differ from their look-alikes.

Like so many mushrooms, there is current confusion over chanterelle classification.

Mycologists now believe that the originalCantharellus cibarius may actually be made up
of a number of different species. For this reason I've avoided using species names on
this page, instead just sticking to main chanterelle characteristics.

This page is divided into two sections. The first goes

over the features of chanterelle mushrooms. The
second section deals with the false look-alikes. Please
take the time to become familiar with these so you
don't make a mistake when mushroom hunting.

My final disclaimer is that you should nevereat a

mushroom based solely on what you've learned online,
including this page. Be sure to get some practice with
a local expert, and never eat anything you can't positively identify!

Traits and Characteristics

Being able to recognize false gills is one of the

most useful skills for chanterelle
identification. False gills appear as forked folds or
interlaced wrinkles on the underside of a mushroom.

False gills are not easily removed from the cap, and
look as though they have "melted". You couldn't
separate them from the cap without ripping something. The picture on the right is an
example.

Note how in chanterelle mushrooms the false gills are decurrent, meaning they run
down the stem.

True gills are individual, blade-like structures. They can be picked off separate from the
cap and each other. Button mushrooms in the grocery store are examples.

Other identification features:

Cap

 Either convex or vase shaped

 Mainly light yellow to orange-yellow, although there is a peach-

coloredCantharellus persicinus.

Stem

Smooth, with no bulb around the base or ring. Not hollow. Same color as the cap.

Spore print

White to light yellow

Habitat

 Chanterelle mushrooms are mycorrhizal, meaning they form a symbiotic beneficial

relationship with plant or tree roots. You'll find them on the ground in a variety of
hardwood forests.

 Often found near washes, the edges of dirt roads, or other places where the
ground has been disturbed.

Smell

Just picked specimens will have a sweet smell like apricots.

Time of year

July to September, or whatever passes as mid-summer to early fall in your area.

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Chanterelle Mushroom Look-Alikes

Chanterelle mushrooms are most commonly confused with either the jack o'lantern or
the false chanterelle. Although not fatal, neither should be eaten.

Jack o'lanterns (Omphalotus olearius,Omphalotus

illudens, Omphalotus olivascens) contain the toxin
muscarine. If eaten, they can cause severe cramps and
diarrhea. The picture on the right shows a clump of them.

One of the best ways to identify a chanterelle from a jack

o'lantern is by examining the gills. Remember that
chanterelles have false gills, which are forking wrinkles on
the underside of the mushroom that appear "melted". Jack
o'lanterns have true gills, meaning they are non-forked and
knife-like.

Other ways to tell a jack o'lantern from a chanterelle:

 Jack o'lanterns grow in large groups with the

stems attached. Chanterelles are usually
solitary or in a small bunch with separate stems.

 Jack o'lanterns are more orange, less yellow.

 Chanterelles will always be near trees due as

they are mycorrhizal fungi. Jack o'lanterns may
appear where there are no trees.

An experienced eye usually won't have a hard time distinguishing between a jack
o'lantern and a chanterelle. Take some time to look at pictures and try to find examples
in the wild. A trip out with your local mushroom club can be a great help.
 The next look-alike is the aptly named false chanterelle
(Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca). Although some say this
mushroom is edible, it reportedly is far too bitter to
taste good. The picture on the left shows a few false
chanterelles.

There are claims that this mushroom is outright

poisonous, giving them upset stomachs and digestive
problems. Thus it's best to avoid the false chanterelle
altogether.

Again, the main way to tell a true

chanterelle from false is by examining
the gills. False chanterelles have true
gills, although they are forked on the
edges. They still appear as close blades
rather than lumpy folds. See how they
differ from the gill picture in the first section
above?

Another way to distinguish the two is with

color. The false chanterelle is a deeper
orange with no yellow. The color is also
graded, meaning they're darker at the center of the cap rather than one uniform color.

Caution should be used when trying to identify chanterelle mushrooms, given that there
are species out there that will make you sick. Reviewing this page and consulting a local
guidebook will help you become more familiar with their traits. I like the National
Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Mushrooms (National Audubon Society
Field Guides) .

None of that is a substitute for real-life examples. Don't try to identify chanterelles
without going on a few mushroom forays and getting instruction from someone
knowledgeable. Remember: "when in doubt, throw it out", because you really don't want
to make the mistake of eating a jack o'lantern!