Craterellus cantharellus. (Schw.) Fr.
Yellow Craterellus. Edible.
Figure 378.—Craterellus cantharellus. Caps and stems yellow.
Cantharellus is a diminutive from a Greek word meaning a sort of drinking-cup.
The pileus is one to three inches broad, convex, often becoming depressed and funnel-shaped, glabrous, yellowish, or pinkish. Flesh white, tough, elastic.
Hymenium slightly wrinkled, yellow or faint salmon color.
The stem is one to three inches high, tapering downward, smooth, solid, yellow. The spores are yellowish or salmon color when caught on white paper, 7.5–10×5–6µ. Peck.
This plant resembles Cantharellus cibarius very closely. The color, form of growth, and the odor are very similar to the latter. It may be readily distinguished from C. cibarius by the absence of folds on the under or fruiting surface. The caps are often large and wavy, resembling yellow cauliflower. It is quite abundant about Chillicothe during the months of July and August. I have frequently gathered bushels of it for my mushroom-friends. It will be easily recognized from Figure 378, bearing in mind that the caps and stems are yellow.