''Cantharellus californicus'', also called the California golden chanterelle, mud puppy, or oak chanterelle, is a

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

native to

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, United States. It is a member of the genus '' Cantharellus'' along with other popular edible chanterelles. It is generally similar in appearance to '' C. cibarius'' and '' C. formosus'' except for its large size at maturity.

Description

The pileus (cap) of ''C. californicus'' is wide, exceptionally , and yellow-orange in color (although adhering leaf litter may cause a mottled color); it may become brownish with age. The

hymenium The hymenium is the tissue layer on the hymenophore of a fungal fruiting body where the cells develop into basidia or asci, which produce spores. In some species all of the cells of the hymenium develop into basidia or asci, while in oth ...

is folded into decurrent ridges (false gills) and cross-veins, which deepen with age. The color of these ridges is usually similar to the cap but paler. The stipe (stem) is long and wide, with coloration similar to the hymenium. The spores are creamy yellow, elliptical, and smooth. individual specimens up to are reported, making it the largest-known species of chanterelle. Their unusual size is due in part to their capacity for indeterminate growth, making ''C. californicus'' specimens actively grow for far longer than most other mushrooms.

Similar species

Several other species of chanterelle may be found in western North America: *'' C. cascadensis'' – bright yellow fading to white in center of cap, associated with conifers *'' C. cibarius'' var. ''roseocanus'' – false gills tend to be as dark or darker than cap *'' C. formosus'' – smaller size, narrower stem, associated with conifers *'' C. subalbidus'' – whitish overall color Additionally, '' Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca'', '' Chroogomphus tomentosus'', and species in the genera '' Craterellus'', '' Gomphus'', '' Omphalotus'', and '' Polyozellus'' may have a somewhat similar appearance to ''C. californicus''. '' Omphalotus olivascens'', the western jack-o'-lantern mushroom, is poisonous and has been mistaken for chanterelles.

Distribution and habitat

''Cantharellus californicus'' forms a mycorrhizal association with oaks, particularly coast live oak in the

woodland A woodland () is, in the broad sense, land covered with woody plants (trees and shrubs), or in a narrow sense, synonymous with wood (or in the U.S., the '' plurale tantum'' woods), a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunli ...

s of Coastal California. It has also been found in association with interior live oak, California black oak, canyon live oak, tanoak, and possibly Pacific madrone and manzanita. ''C. californicus'' is a popular wild edible in the

San Francisco Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a List of regions of California, region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, California, S ...

, and is most common between November and April.

In culture

It became the official state mushroom of California in 2024.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q2936589 californicus Edible fungi of California Fungi described in 2008 Fungi without expected TNC conservation status Fungus species Mycorrhizal associates of oaks Symbols of California