| Major Groups > Gilled Mushrooms > Pale-Spored > Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca |
|
Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca [ Basidiomycetes > Boletales > Hygrophoropsidaceae > Hygrophoropsis . . . ] by Michael Kuo Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca bears a superficial resemblance to chanterelles (especially eastern North America's Cantharellus cinnabarinus), and is often given the label "false chanterelle" in field guides. Unlike chanterelles, however, Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca features true gills, rather than false gills--and it is a soft, flimsy mushroom when compared to the hard-fleshed, sturdy chanterelles. Defining features for Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca include the repeatedly forked, orange gills; the soft cap surface; the white spore print; and the dextrinoid spores. It is found on the ground, often near rotting wood. Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca is edible for some people, but it may cause gastrointestinal problems for others. It is widely reported as "edible," widely reported as "poisonous," and even reported (probably erroneously) as potentially hallucinogenic . . . but no one reports it as tasty. I do not recommend experimenting. Description: Ecology: Saprobic, decomposing forest litter and woody debris; usually found under conifers; occasionally growing from well rotted wood; alone, scattered, or gregarious; summer and fall (and over winter in warm climates); widely distributed in North America. Cap: 2-10 cm; convex, becoming broadly convex, flat, or shallowly depressed; dry; very finely velvety and soft to the touch; the margin initially inrolled; color variable, but usually brown, orange, or somewhere between (occasionally nearly white or black); often with a browner center and an "oranger" margin. Gills: Running down the stem; close or crowded; repeatedly forked; pale to bright orange. Stem: 2-10 cm long; up to 1.5 cm. thick; more or less equal; colored like the cap; smooth or very finely velvety. Flesh: Thin; whitish to orangish. Odor and Taste: Mild. Spore Print: White. Chemical Reactions: KOH on cap surface reddish. Microscopic Features: Spores 5-8 x 3-5 µ; smooth; more or less elliptical; dextrinoid, or with both inamyloid and dextrinoid spores present. Cystidia absent. Pileipellis a densely tangled layer of clavate to cylindric hyphae 7-18 µ wide. Clamp connections present. REFERENCES: (Wulfen, 1781) Maire, 1921. (Fries, 1821; Saccardo, 1887; Kauffman, 1918; Smith, 1975; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1979; Arora, 1986; States, 1990; Phillips, 1991/2005; Lincoff, 1992; Barron, 1999; Roody, 2003; McNeil, 2006; Miller & Miller, 2006.) Herb Kuo 09120706. Clitocybe aurantiaca and Cantharellus aurantiacus are former names. DNA studies have placed Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca in the Boletales. Further Online Information: Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca at MykoWeb |
© MushroomExpert.Com |
|
Cite this page as: Kuo, M. (2007, November). Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: http://www.mushroomexpert.com/hygrophoropsis_aurantiaca.html |