Species details
Amethyst chanterelle
Cantharellus amethysteus
Traditionally edible
Photo: Tim Eberling · CC BY 4.0 · Photo source · License
Description
A yellow chanterelle with characteristic violet to amethyst scales and patches on the cap and branched ridges beneath.
Identification features
The cap is yellow to orange-yellow, often wavy and violet-scaled. Instead of true gills it has low, thick, branched ridges running down the stem.
Identification checklist
Check the amethyst-scaled cap, solid firm stem, and especially blunt branched ridges rather than thin true gills.
How to separate similar species
The common chanterelle lacks strong amethyst scaling. False chanterelle and jack-o'-lantern have true gills; jack-o'-lantern is poisonous.
Habitat
Mycorrhizal in coniferous and deciduous woodland, including with beech, in late summer and autumn.
Fruiting period
August, September, October