Photo by Jim Jung. All rights reserved

Chanterelles

Chanterelles begin appearing early in the summer, and continue until drought or cold weather shuts them down for the year. These (practically) unmistakable, bright yellow fungi pop up after each summer thunderstorm and then sit on the forest floor like unclaimed gold waiting for some fortunate hunter to stumble over them.

Mycorhizal fungi

Chanterelles are complicated mushrooms. As mycorhizal fungi they spend most of their lives as thin, delicate threads just beneath the surface of the forest floor. Here they live their lives collecting nutrients and water which they exchange with their tree partners for sugars and other nutrients they can't make for themselves. When conditions are right they send up their fruiting bodies (the Chanterelles we pick) and spread their millions of spores far and wide in the hopes that a few will find the right conditions to form a new colony and so continue their kind.

Culinary evaluation

Chanterelles are considered gourmet mushrooms. On the west coast Chanterelles have become big business as thousands of pounds of these mushrooms are picked and exported to Europe each year where their delicate, fruity flavor and meaty texture are highly prized. Unfortunately our midwestern species seem to lack this delectable aroma and flavor (at least I've been unable to detect it) and while - as mushrooms go - they're adequate - and even good - they hardly seem to be of gourmet quality.

Habitat and native species

Look for Chanterelles in mature hardwood forests. Our area seems to support at least three species: the classic Chanterelle (C. cibarius) - albeit without the typical Chanterelle flavor, the Smooth Chanterelle (C. lateritius) - which appears to be the most common species and which I consistently find beneath maples, and the Red Chanterelle (C. cinnabarinus) - a tiny, diminutive species noted more for its color than anything else and which seems to associate with oaks.

From our Archive:

• Morels!
• Mushrooms and the Moon

Offsite Link:

• Missouri Mycological Society Homepage

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