Chanterelles

Media
Image of smooth chanterelle
Safety Concerns
Name
Edible
Scientific Name
Cantharellaceae (various members of family)
Family
Cantharellaceae
Description

Chanterelles are funnel- or trumpet-shaped and have wavy cap edges. Most are bright orange or yellow, although one, the black trumpet, is brownish black. Fresh chanterelles have a pleasant, fruity fragrance. To make sure you have a chanterelle, check the underside of the cap. Some species of chanterelles are nearly smooth underneath, while others have a network of wrinkles or gill-like ridges running down the stem. The ridges have many forks and crossveins and are always blunt-edged. Chanterelles do not have true gills, such as those found on the poisonous but similar jack-o’-lantern mushroom, which are sharp-edged and knifelike.

Size
Height: 1–6 inches; width: ½–6 inches.
Where To Find
image of Chanterelles Distribution Map
Statewide, particularly in moist woodlands and in river bottoms.
Chanterelles can be found in the same habitat that favors morels: on the ground in hardwood forests. They will always be found on the ground in grass or leaf litter, never on decaying wood or trees (which can be buried), and while they may be found singly, they grow more commonly in scattered groups, often in large areas. Make note of where you find them — they will reappear annually. All mushrooms favor moist conditions and are less numerous in dry years.
Common in suitable habitats.
Life Cycle
These organisms spend most of the time as a network of fungal cells (mycelium) in the soil, associated symbiotically with tree roots. When ready to reproduce, the mycelium develops mushrooms, which produce spores, which create new mycelia elsewhere. The fruiting season of chanterelles begins in May and continues through October. Early fall is a good time to search because heavy undergrowth and insect pests are on the decline, and fallen leaves haven’t hidden them yet.
Chanterelles are a great favorite of European chefs and are becoming more popular in the United States. The market for them is growing. If you collect more than you can eat, preserve extra chanterelles by sautéing, then freezing. Recipes for them abound.
A variety of organisms, from tiny insects to mammals, eat chanterelles. The fungus that gives rise to the mushroom forms mutually beneficial (symbiotic) relationships with roots of trees, helping them to absorb water and nutrients while the trees provide nourishment to the fungus.
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About Mushrooms in Missouri

Mushrooms are a lot like plants, but they lack chlorophyll and have to take nutrients from other materials. Mushrooms are neither plants nor animals. They are in a different kingdom — the fungi. Fungi include the familiar mushroom-forming species, plus the yeasts, molds, smuts, and rusts.

Always be cautious when eating edible mushrooms. Be absolutely sure of the ID, and only eat a small amount the first time you try it to avoid a reaction..