Cantharellus infundiliformis (Scop.) Fr.
Cantharellus tubaeformis (Bull.) Fr.
Helvella tubaeformis Bull.
Cap (Pileus): 2.3 – 5 cm broad; convex at first, then becoming depressed and finally with a deep narrow depression, flaring becoming funnel shaped; margins even and straight at first then flaring and uplifting, undulating edges that are shallowly and broadly scalloped shaped, at times edges are curly, upturned and rolled backwards, occasionally cracking and splitting; surface dry, smooth, unpolished, ridged to grooved and at times pitted, at times with flattened minute scales which occasionally have tips that are upturned; colour golden yellow brown on disc becoming paler towards margins, when drying becoming grey brown; context 3 - 5 mm at junction of stipe, solid at first, colour buff to light grey brown, becoming white when drying; taste indistinct to described as ‘fungus-like’ or ‘pleasant’; odour fungus like.
Folds or Veins (Hymenium): decurrent, folds thick, forking repeatedly with abundant cross veins; more or less widely spaced; 1 – 4 mm broad; edges even and straight; colour pink to pale orange.
Stalk (Stipe): 2.0 – 6.0 cm long X 0.4– 1.0 cm wide at apex, 0.3 – 0.5 cm wide at base, equal to tapering downwards, flexuous, at times compressed (flattened), with a deep groove; surface dry, smooth, shiny and polished; colour yellow brown to grayish brown to bright orange; context solid at first then hollow, spongy, white to bright golden yellow, at times same colour as stipe surface, brighter at base.
Spore print white; spores 10 – 15 X 5 – 8 µm, ellipsoid to cylindric, smooth, innamyloid; basidia long; hyphae with clamp connections.
Comments: This mushroom has previously been referred to as Cantharellus tubaeformis or by its synonym, C. infundibuliformis. Molecular analysis of western North American and European material indicates that it belongs in the genus Craterellus, not Cantharellus. As well, molecular research indicates that our western specimens do not represent Cr. tubaeformis of Europe but a distinct, as yet officially unnamed species for which the name Craterellus neotubaeformis is currently being used. Some mycologists have spelled this mushroom as C. tubiformis, however, nomenclatural rules indicate that the correct spelling of this species is Cr. tubaeformis.
Craterellus tubaeformis can be confused with Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca, but H. aurantiaca has bright orange gills rather than folds, a more fragile stature, and it causes brown rot in trees. Clitocybe gibba (=Clitocybe infundibuliformis) has a similar stature as Cr. tubaeformis, but it has white true gills, a pale pinkish orange cap, and an almond-like odour. Another look-alike, Cantharellula umbonata has a brownish grey cap, white gills that bruise red, and amyloid spores.
Habit, Ecology, Habitat and Range
The winter chanterelle fruits in large numbers from late August till mid winter and is found on or around well-rotted wood or humus. It is also found in moist to boggy areas. It can survive early frosts. While this mushroom is not confined to old-growth forests, it fruits abundantly in late succession or undisturbed forests. It is closely associated with well-rotted wood in old-growth forests throughout the province and has recently been shown to form mycorrhizae with western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis), though Tsuga heterophylla is its preferred host. Craterellus tubaeformis of Europe also forms mycorrhizae with orchids and has been isolated from pelotons of orchids.
This mushroom is widely distributed in the province in mid- to late-successional forests, particularly where western hemlock is present.
Some consider this species to be superior for culinary purposes in comparison to the other chanterelles found in B.C. This mushroom is popular in Scandinavia and it is one of the top wild mushrooms harvested commercially in Finland and Denmark. In Europe, increase in air pollution and the resulting increase in soil nitrogen accumulations has been cited as a of the prime reason for declining forest mushroom populations. However, this species was the only dominant forest ectomycorrhizal mushroom that increased in fruiting body production due to additions of soil nitrogen.
Craterellus tubaeformis, along with other chanterelles, is high in a highly accessible form of vitamin D. Further research indicates that vitamin D losses in Cr. tubaeformis due to cooking or drying are negligible, and so in Finland, it has been recommended as a natural vitamin D source. Extracts from Cr. tubaeformis have been shown to have inhibitory actions against certain bacteria.
After the nuclear accident in Chernobyl, Ukraine, USSR, the uptake of 137-caesium from the soil by wild mushrooms was assessed throughout Europe. Of the more commonly eaten mushrooms there, Craterellus tubaeformis and Boletus badius had the highest levels of radiocesium accumulations, though the concentrations weren’t high enough to cause health concerns. Analysis of Finnish soils for plutonium (Pu) before and within 1 year after the Chernobyl accident showed that there were negligible differences in soil Pu before and after the accident, and that Cantharellus cibarius, and Cr. tubaeformis possessed the lowest Pu levels of all forest understory vegetation, while mosses had the highest.
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