Winter Chanterelle - Craterellus tubaeformis
Winter Chanterelle - Craterellus tubaeformis
Edible mushroom - novice identification
Other common names: Trumpet Chanterelles, Chanterelle, Yellow Legs, Yellow Foot, Funnel Chanterelle, Yellow Foot Trumpet
Scientific name meaning: Craterellus comes from the Greek Krater, meaning cup. Tubaeformis is from the Latin Tuba, meaning trumpet, and Forma, meaning the appearance of
Spore print: White to pale yellow
Habitat and season
Mycorrhizal with coniferous and deciduous trees, especially Pine, Fir and Beech and fruiting in Autumn and Winter
Growth and appearance
A cap and stem mushroom that often appears in large groups. Seems to particularly like mossy forests and bracken
Cap
The thin brown cap has a very wavy edge and is slightly paler at the margin. It reaches 2 -5cm in width and greys with age. It is funnel shaped and often has a hole in its centre
Veins
The veins, or false gills, are yellow when very young and become more pale and grey with age. They are decurrent, wrinkled and forked, and have cross veins, too
Stem
The yellow stem is 2 - 8cm tall and 0.5 - 1cm wide. It is hollow and usually grooved, given the appearance of having a pair of legs. It is often swollen at the base
Flesh, taste and smell
The flesh is pale yellow to white and does not change colour. The smell and taste are mild
Possible lookalikes
The Jelly Baby (Leotia lubrica) could be confused for a young Winter Chanterelle. However, Jelly Baby mushrooms have a smooth surface under their wrinkled cap, rather than veins. jelly Babies are considered inedible, despite their name
Use as a food Edible when cooked. Can be dehydrated and used later two. Excellent flavour for savoury dishes. Can also be pickled or caramelised for sweet dishes
Hazards Thought to be an effective bioaccumulator of heavy metals, so harvesting from contaminated areas should be avoided
Other uses None known
Use in medicine None known - please let us known if you know of any!
If you are suffering from any ailment or need medical advice, please see your General Practitioner
Importance to other species Fed on by slugs and snails
Always stay safe when foraging. You need to be 100% sure of your identification, 100% sure that your foraged item is edible, and 100% sure that you are not allergic to it (it is good practice to always try a small amount of any new food you are consuming). If in doubt, leave it out!