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Chanterelles

Jack-o'-Lantern Mushroom

Chanterelle Season

While the morel may be found only during early spring, the greatest variety of edible mushrooms occurs during the summer months and lasts well into fall.

This is the season of the chanterelle mushroom, and those who venture into the deep woods during this time may be in store for culinary rewards.

Caution: Some wild mushrooms can sicken or kill you. Be certain the mushrooms you collect for the table are edible, and always cook them before eating.

Although the chanterelle may not be as well known or sought after as the morel, it is a delicious, edible mushroom. You need not be a mycologist to classify these fungi. Like the morel, they are easily recognized. With practice, you won't mistake them for anything else.

There are several species of chanterelle, none poisonous. Novice hunters may wish to begin their search for two of the most common and readily identifiable chanterelles:

• Chanterellus cibarius
• Chanterellus craterellus.

Ranging in color from pale to yolk yellow to bright orange, these fungi stand out on the forest floor. An observant hunter will notice these colors become more pronounced following heavy dew or rain.

These fungi are not true gilled mushrooms. The underside of the cap or hymenial surface may have rounded gill-like ridges or veins that branch irregularly, as on the golden chanterelle, or the underside may be smooth to wrinkled as found on the craterellus or gilless chanterelle. Two common species of chanterelles are funnel-shaped and appear flower-like.

Other than the obvious lack of ridges characteristic of the craterellus, the two varieties are virtually alike. Both possess a pleasant, fruity aroma similar to apricots, and both are choice edibles.

Chanterelles can be found in the same habitat that favors morels. They will always be found on the ground in grass or leaf litter, never on decaying wood or trees, and while they may be found singly, they grow more commonly in groups.

All mushrooms favor moist conditions, and the chanterelle is no exception. Generally, any extended period of rain should provide conditions suitable for chanterelles.

Since the fruiting season of these fungi begins in May and continues through October, opportunities for finding them abound. Early fall is a good time to search because heavy undergrowth and insect pests are on the decline. As bright fall foliage begins to litter the forest floor, they become more difficult to find.

Don't mistake the toxic jack-o-lantern mushroom for an edible chanterelle

The bright orange