Cantharellus cibarius (Latin: cantharellus, "chanterelle"; cibarius, "culinary")[2] is the golden chanterelle, the type species of the chanterelle genus Cantharellus. It is also known as girolle (orgirole).[3][4]
Despite its characteristic features, it is often confused with the poisonous jack'o'lantern, Omphalotus illudens, and the false chanterelle, Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca. The golden chanterelle is a commonly consumed and choice edible species.
At one time, all yellow or golden chanterelles in North America had been classified as Cantharellus cibarius. Using DNA analysis, they have since been shown to be a group of related species known as the Cantharellus cibarius group or species complex, with C. cibarius sensu stricto restricted to Europe.[5][6][7] In 1997, the Pacific golden chanterelle (C. formosus) and C. cibarius var. roseocanus were identified,[8] followed by C. cascadensis in 2003[9] and C. californicus in 2008.[10] In 2018, an Asian species belonging to the C. cibarius complex has been described and sequenced, C. anzutake, recorded in Japan and Korea.[11]
The mushroom is easy to detect and recognize in nature.[3] The body is 3–10 centimetres (1–4 inches) wide and 5–10 cm (2–4 in) tall. The color varies from yellow to dark yellow.[3][12] Red spots will appear on the cap of the mushroom if it is damaged.[13] Chanterelles have a faint aroma and flavor of apricots.[3][12]
A commonly eaten and favored mushroom, the chanterelle is typically harvested from late summer to late fall in its European distribution.[3]
Chanterelles are used in many culinary dishes,[3][12] and can be preserved by either drying or freezing. The use of an oven for drying is not recommended because it can make the mushroom bitter.[3]
^ abBuyck, Bart; Hofstetter, Valérie; Olariaga, Ibai (September 2016). "Setting the Record Straight on North American Cantharellus". Cryptogamie, Mycologie. 37 (3): 405–417. doi:10.7872/crym/v37.iss3.2016.405. S2CID89596664.
^Dunham, S.M.; O'Dell, T.E.; Molina, R. (2003). "Analysis of nrDNA sequences and microsatellite allele frequencies reveals a cryptic chanterelle species Cantharellus cascadensis sp. nov. from the American Pacific Northwest". Mycological Research. 107 (10): 1163–77. doi:10.1017/s0953756203008475. PMID14635765.
Media related to Cantharellus cibarius at Wikimedia Commons
