Cantharellus subalbidus: The White Chanterelle

[ Basidiomycetes > Cantharellales > Cantharellus . . . ]

by John Plischke

The White Chanterelle, Cantharellus subalbidus, grows in the Northwest. It is similar in size and shape to the Chanterelle, Cantharellus cibarius, but the White Chanterelle's identifying features are its white color and its orangish bruising. Be careful not to confuse it with Gomphus floccosus, which differs by having an orange to orangish red, scaly cap.

Description:

Ecology: Mycorrhizal with pines, Douglas-fir, and madrone; growing alone or scattered; fall and winter; occasional; northwestern North America.

Cap: 5-11 cm wide; becoming sunken in the center with age; white, bruising orangish to orangish brown and sometimes developing orangish brown spots with age; the margin wavy.

Undersurface: With false gills that run down the stem; often with forking or cross-veins; white, bruising like the cap.

Stem: 1.5-6 cm long; 1-2 cm thick; often wider near the cap; white, bruising and staining like the cap; solid.

Flesh: White.

Odor and Taste: Mild.

Spore Print: White.

Microscopic Features: Spores 7-9 x 5-5.5 µ; smooth; elliptical.

REFERENCES: Smith & Morse, 1947. (Corner, 1966; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1981; Thiers, 1985; Arora, 1986; Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992; Pilz et al., 2003; Miller & Miller, 2006; Kuo, 2007.)

Further Online Information:

Cantharellus subalbidus at MykoWeb

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Cite this page as:

Plischke, J. (2004, March). Cantharellus subalbidus: The white chanterelle. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/cantharellus_subalbidus.html