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EDIBLE AND POISONOUS MUSHROOMS OF CANADA
CANTHARELLUS
Cantharellus is an important genus for the mycophagist because many of
the species are large and conspicuous, and fairly easily recognized without
much danger of being confused with poisonous species. The chanterelle,
C. cibarius, is one of the species frequently used and highly recommended for
food and should be on the Hst of every amateur collector.
The genus is characterized by the thick, fold-like lamellae which are
decurrent, usually distant and more or less forked. The stipe is continuous
with the pileus and there is no veil. In some species the lamellae are poorly
developed and little more than wrinkles. The genus then approaches Craterellus
of the Thelephoraceae in which the hymenium is smooth. Cantharellus clava-
tus, in which the lamellae are mere wrinkles, has been placed in Craterellus by
some authors. On the other hand, in species in which the lamellae are better
developed and less fold-like, the genus approaches Clitocybe. Cantharellus
umbonatus with well-formed lamellae is hkely to be sought in Clitocybe, and
Clitocybe aurantiaca has been called Cantharellus aurantiacus by many authors.
For those who are interested in the problems of relationships, it may be
noted that modern taxonomists tend to the view that Cantharellus, as here
constituted, does not comprise a natural group of species. For example,
C. multiplex, with its pecuhar warted spores, has been made the type of a new
genus, Polyozellus; and C. umbonatus, with amyloid spores, has been made the
type of a new genus, Cantharellula. Although it is evident from modern taxonomic
studies that these and other species are not closely related to C. cibarius,
which is the type species of Cantharellus, it seems preferable to retain Can-
tharellus in the more traditional sense for the purpose of this book. If Can-
tharellus were to be used in the strict sense for only those species closely
related to C. cibarius, it might be considered to be more closely related to the
Clavariaceae than to the Agaricaceae.
Key
1. Fruiting bodies entirely red C. cinnabarinus
1. Fruiting bodies not entirely red 2
2. Fruiting bodies more or less yellow to brown 3
2. Fruiting bodies not yellow 5
3. Fruiting bodies large, vase-shaped, yellowish, with reddish
or reddish orange scales C. floccosus
3. Fruiting bodies not as above 4
4. Fruiting bodies bright chrome-yellow to egg-yellow, firm, fleshy C cibarius
4. Fruiting bodies brownish yellow to ochraceous brown, thin, pliant;
lamellae drying grayish C. tubaeformis
5. Fruiting bodies gray, usually with a small umbo; lamellae well developed,
white; flesh reddening when wounded C umbonatus
5. Fruiting bodies purplish flesh color to blackish 6
6. Growing in dense cespitose masses; spores nearly globose, warty C. multiplex
6. Usually separate to gregarious or sometimes slightly cespitose;
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spores narrow-ellipsoid, wrinkled C. clavatus