Cantharellus cibarius

golden chanterelle

Scientific identification: Cantharellus cibarius Fr.
Family: Cantharellaceae
Class: Agaricomycetes
Genus: Cantharellus

Names across languages

English: golden chanterelle
German: Echter Pfifferling
Finnish: Keltavahvero
Estonian: Harilik kukeseen
Russian: Лисичка обыкновенная

The scientific profile

From the latest record: 2026-07-04.

Hymenium

False gills / thick forked ridges, not true lamellae; blunt, wrinkled, strongly decurrent, yellow to pale yellow

Cap

Convex to flat, later shallowly funnel-shaped; margin wavy and irregular; smooth, egg-yolk yellow to golden-yellow

Hymenium Attachment

Decurrent — ridges run down the stipe

Stipe

Solid, smooth, fleshy, same colour as or slightly paler than cap, merging gradually into the cap

Spore print

Spore print pale yellow to creamy white, sometimes faintly pinkish

Ecology

Ecology ectomycorrhizal with broadleaved and coniferous trees, especially oak, chestnut, hazel and conifers; woodland soils, often acid; summer to autumn

Edibility

Edibility choice edible, highly prized for flavour and texture

Fruit body

Fruit body medium; usually ~3–10 cm tall

Dimensions

Cap ∅ up to ~10 cm

Flesh

Flesh firm, pale yellowish-white, fibrous, unchanging when cut

Chemical reactions

No distinctive macroscopic reaction; spores hyaline in KOH

Odour

Odour fruity, apricot-like, sometimes faint when fresh

Taste

Taste mild, pleasant, not strongly distinctive raw

Microscopy

Spores ellipsoid, smooth, hyaline, inamyloid, ~7–11 × 4–6 µm; basidia typically 4–6-spored, hymenium formed on blunt ridges rather than true gills

Overview

Classic choice edible golden chanterelle with wavy yellow cap

1821). Syst. Mycol. (Lundae) 1: 318.

https://www.gbif.org/species/5249504

Field encounters

04/Jul/2026, 2:49 PM

Kõrveküla, Lääne-Viru, Eesti

Conifer dominant forest, woodland open space, deep in moss

59°14'11.6"N 25°39'14.6"E

🌡️ 19°C 🌥️ Passing clouds 💨 Wind 10° N->S, 7 km/h

Original Instagram post

03/Aug/24, 5:18 PM

Treppoja Cascade, Kloogaranna, Harjumaa, Estonia

Mixed forest, deep in moss

59°21'01.2"N 24°15'58.9"E

🔆 Sunny still weather, evening sun, sunny spot

Original Instagram post

20/Aug/23, 2:49 PM

Raudoja, Harju County

Conifer forest (pine, spruce), deep in moss

59°22'45.0"N 25°29'06.2"E (59.379153, 25.485067)

🔆 Fair weather with slight overcast

Original Instagram post

Source hashtags

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Back to the collection · Photography and field notes by @fungarium.info