The Cantharellaceae are a family of fungi in the order Cantharellales. The family contains the chanterelles and related species, a group of fungi that superficially resemble agarics but have smooth, wrinkled, or gill-like hymenophores. Species in the family are ectomycorrhizal, forming a mutually beneficial relationship with the roots of trees and other plants. Many of the Cantharellaceae, including the chanterelle, the Pacific golden chanterelle, the horn of plenty, and the trumpet chanterelle, are not only edible, but are collected and marketed internationally on a commercial scale.
The Cantharellales are an order of fungi in the class Agaricomycetes. The order includes not only the chanterelles (Cantharellaceae), but also some of the tooth fungi (Hydnaceae), clavarioid fungi, and corticioid fungi (Botryobasidiaceae). Species within the order are variously ectomycorrhizal, saprotrophic, associated with orchids, or facultative plant pathogens. Those of economic importance include edible and commercially collected Cantharellus, Craterellus, and Hydnum species as well as crop pathogens in the genera Ceratobasidium and Thanatephorus/Rhizoctonia.
Cantharellus is a genus of 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 plants. Chanterelles may resemble a number of other species, some of which are poisonous.
Carduus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, and the tribe Cardueae, one of two genera considered to be true thistles, the other being Cirsium. Plants of the genus are known commonly as plumeless thistles. They are native to Eurasia and Africa, and several are known elsewhere as introduced species. This genus is noted for its disproportionately high number of noxious weeds compared to other flowering plant genera.
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. The genus name is derived from the Greek poly meaning many, and oz, meaning branch. It is commonly known as the blue chanterelle, the clustered blue chanterelle, or, in Alaska, the black chanterelle. The distinctive fruit body of this species comprises blue- to purple-colored clusters of vase- or spoon-shaped caps with veiny wrinkles on the undersurface that run down the length of the stem.
Cantharellus lateritius, commonly known as the smooth chanterelle, is a species of edible fungus in the mushroom family Cantharellaceae. An ectomycorrhizal species, it is found in Asia, Africa, and North America. The species has a complex taxonomic history, and has undergone several name changes since its first description by American mycologist Lewis David de Schweinitz in 1822. The fruit bodies of the fungus are brightly colored yellow to orange, and usually highly conspicuous against the soil in which they are found. At maturity, the mushroom resembles a filled funnel with the spore-bearing surface along the sloping outer sides. The texture of the fertile undersurface (hymenium) of the caps is a distinguishing characteristic of the species: unlike the well-known golden chanterelle, the hymenium of C. lateritius is much smoother. Chemical analysis has revealed the presence of several carotenoid compounds in the fruit bodies.
Cantharellus subpruinosus is a species of fungus in the family Cantharellaceae. A European species, it was originally described from France in 2000, where it was found growing in moss in mixed deciduous and spruce woodland.
Cantharellus zangii is a species of fungus in the family Cantharellaceae. Described as new to science in 2012, it is found only in a small area in northwestern Yunnan, China. The fungus produces small, ochre to ochre-yellow fruit bodies (mushrooms) with thin flesh and a long tapering stipe. Microscopically, the mushroom features thin-walled hyphae with clamp connections, and large ellipsoid-shaped spores.
Cantharellus lilacinus is a species of fungus in the family Cantharellaceae. First described in 1919 by botanists John Burton Cleland and Edwin Cheel, the fungus is found in Australia.
Cantharellus altipes is a species of fungus in the family Cantharellaceae. Described as new to science in 2011, it is found in Texas, where it grows in oak-pine woods.
Cantharellus roseocanus is a species of fungus in the family Cantharellaceae. Found in the Pacific Northwest region of North America, it was originally described in 1997 as a variety of Cantharellus cibarius, and later promoted to distinct species status in 2012.
Cantharellus tabernensis is a species of fungus in the family Cantharellaceae that was described as new to science in 1996. It is found in the southern United States, where it grows in mixed pine and hardwood forests, close to mature Pinus elliottii trees. Fruit bodies have a yellowish-brown cap with a slightly darker brown center, and a bright orange gills and stipe. The specific epithet tabernensis refers to the meeting house at the Stennis Space Center Recreation area, near the type locality.
Afrocantharellus is a genus of fungi in the family Cantharellaceae. It was originally named as a subgenus of Cantharellus, but was elevated to the rank of genus by Donatha D. Tibuhwa in 2012 based on morphological and molecular evidence. Afrocantharellus species are only known from Africa.
Afrocantharellus fistulosus is a species of fungus in the family Cantharellaceae. First described in 2008 as a species of Cantharellus, it was transferred to the new genus Afrocantharellus in 2012.
Afrocantharellus splendens is a species of fungus in the family Cantharellaceae found in Zambia, Burundi and Tanzania. First described in 1994 as a species of Cantharellus, it was transferred to the new genus Afrocantharellus in 2012.
Afrocantharellus symoensii is a species of fungus in the family Cantharellaceae. First described by mycologist Paul Heinemann in 1966 as a species of Cantharellus, it was transferred to the new genus Afrocantharellus in 2012.
Cantharellus guyanensis is a tropical South American species of mushroom-forming fungus in the chanterelle genus (Cantharellus), first described by Camille Montagne from French Guiana in 1854.
Pseudocraterellus pseudoclavatus is a species of fungus in the family Cantharellaceae. Smith described it in 1947 as Cantharellus pseudoclavatus, from a collection of a mushroom from the Siskiyou Fork of the Smith River in northern California. He reported it occurred in Washtenaw and Oakland counties in Michigan in oak hickory forest but added that he had mistaken it for G. clavatus as the two were very similar in appearance and hence it could be more widespread. He placed it in the subgenus Gomphus.
Craterellus calicornucopioides is an edible fungus in the family Cantharellaceae. Described by David Arora and Jonathan L. Frank in 2015, is the North American version of the similar European species Craterellus cornucopioides. Molecular phylogenetics has shown that they are, however, distinct species.
Craterellus elegans is a species of fungus in the family Cantharellaceae.
