Species details

Yellowfoot

Craterellus lutescens

Traditionally edible

Description

A slender hollow trumpet-shaped fungus with a brownish wavy cap, yellow-orange stem, and an almost smooth to weakly wrinkled fertile surface.

Identification features

The cap is funnelled, thin, and wavy-curled. The underside is orange-yellow and mostly smooth or only weakly wrinkled. The stem is hollow, slender, and strongly yellow to orange.

Identification checklist

Check the completely hollow fruitbody, yellow-orange stem, and very weak ridges or almost smooth fertile surface. The smell can be distinctly pleasant and fruity.

Detailed features

Cap: The cap is funnelled, thin, and wavy-curled.
Hymenophore: The underside is orange-yellow and mostly smooth or only weakly wrinkled.
Stem: The stem is hollow, slender, and strongly yellow to orange.
Flesh: Yellowish, thin, fibrous and rather tough.
Smell: Pleasantly fruity to slightly alcoholic.
Spore print: White.

Size

Cap diameter: 2–6 cm
Stem height: 5–8 cm
Stem diameter: 0,5–1,5 cm

Habitat

Fruits in groups in autumn in moist coniferous and mixed woodland, often in uplands on nutrient-poor soils; mycorrhizal mainly with conifers.

Fruiting period

September, October, November

Ecology

Trophic mode: Mycorrhizal
Host trees: Spruce (Picea), Pine (Pinus), Fir (Abies)
Substrate: Forest soil, Moss
Soil: Moist
Notes: Fruits in groups in autumn in moist coniferous and mixed woodland, often in uplands on nutrient-poor soils; mycorrhizal mainly with conifers.

How to separate similar species

Trumpet chanterelle has more pronounced ridges and usually a differently coloured underside. Common chanterelle is fleshier and not hollow throughout.

Similar species

Interesting facts

Did you know? The hymenium is nearly smooth to slightly wrinkled, helping separate it from more strongly ridged relatives.