''Cantharellus cascadensis'', the Cascade chanterelle, is a

fungus A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from t ...

native to the

Pacific Northwest The Pacific Northwest (sometimes Cascadia, or simply abbreviated as PNW) is a geographic region in western North America bounded by its coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains to the east. Tho ...

region of North America. It is a member of the genus ''

Cantharellus ''Cantharellus'' is a genus of popular edible mushrooms, commonly known as chanterelles, a name which can also refer to the type species, '' Cantharellus cibarius''. They are mycorrhizal fungi, meaning they form symbiotic associations with plant ...

'' along with other popular edible

chanterelle Chanterelle is the common name of several species of fungi in the genera '' Cantharellus'', '' Craterellus'', '' Gomphus'', and ''Polyozellus''. They are among the most popular of wild edible mushrooms. They are orange, yellow or white, meaty a ...

s. It is named after the Cascade Range, where it was formally described in 2003.

History

Both ''Cantharellus cascadensis'' and '' C. roseocanus'' were first considered to be varieties of ''Cantharellus cibarius'', then of '' C. formosus''. ''C.'' ''cascadensis'' was genetically classified as its own species in 2003.

Description

The cap is usually bright yellow with a smooth or wooly surface. The stipe is club-shaped to bulbous.

Similar species

Several other species of chanterelle may be found in western North America: *'' C. californicus'' *'' C. formosus'' *'' C. roseocanus'' *'' C. subalbidus'' Additionally, ''

Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca ''Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca'', commonly known as the false chanterelle, is a species of fungus in the family Hygrophoropsidaceae. It is found across several continents, growing in woodland and heathland, and sometimes on woodchips used in gar ...

'', '' Chroogomphus tomentosus'', and species in the genera ''

Craterellus ''Craterellus'' is a genus of generally edible fungi similar to the closely related chanterelles, with some new species recently moved from the latter to the former. Both groups lack true gills on the underside of their caps, though they often ...

'', '' Gomphus'', ''

Omphalotus ''Omphalotus'' is a genus of basidiomycete mushroom, in the family Marasmiaceae, formally circumscribed by Victor Fayod in 1889. Members have the traditional cap and stem structure. They are saprobic, and fruit in clumps on the ground, adjac ...

'', and ''

Polyozellus ''Polyozellus'' is a fungal genus in the family Thelephoraceae, a grouping of mushrooms known collectively as the leathery earthfans. Previously considered a monotypic genus, it now contains the ''Polyozellus multiplex'' species complex. Th ...

'' may have a somewhat similar appearance to ''C. cascadensis''.

References

External links

* * cascadensis Fungi of Canada Fungi of California Cascade Range Fungi described in 2003 Fungi without expected TNC conservation status {{Agaricomycetes-stub