# Chanterelles **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 9, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chanterelles/206404 "2003-10-09T02:59:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chanterelles/206404/1 "2003-10-09T02:59:50Z")
I found a large stash of these in the woods (northeast US). I’m pretty well certain of the identification … But I was wondering if there are any problem look-alikes. My research says probably not. Some sources mention the Jack O’Lantern, which these definitely aren’t. Are there others to watch out for? And, though it probably belongs in IMHO - any suggested recipies? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chanterelles/206404/2 "2003-10-09T03:09:20Z")
Well, there is the ‘False Chanterelle’, Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca. However it has true gills, while a chanterelle does not ( that is to say chanterelles have shallow, blunt “gills”, instead of the blade-like gills you find on most mushrooms like your common store-bought button mushroom ). Not terribly toxic, but perhaps mildly so and not nearly as tasty as a chanterelle. Has a mildly ‘spermatic’ odor. There are likely a few more, as well, almost all with true gills. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chanterelles/206404/3 "2003-10-09T03:16:36Z")
Ah, here’s one possible “false-gilled” mushroom David Arora suggests that might be confused with a chanterelle ( by the way, I am assuming these are your standard orangish chanterelle, not one of the dark or white species ) - the Lobster Mushroom ( Hypomyces lactifluorum ). However that one tends to be more usually solitary or scattered ( it’s a parasite on other mushrooms - Arora suggests it can be gragarious, but in my, admittedly much more limited experience, parasites don’t tend to be found in clusters as much - they’d have to have a complete infection on a cluster of hosts ) and is a passable edible for most, anyway. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chanterelles/206404/4 "2003-10-09T03:20:06Z")
By the way, David Arora’s Mushrooms Demystified is the _only_ field guide worth owning for North America ( esp. the Western U.S. ). All the rest are far too limited in scope. Even at that, his is not all-encompassing either. I have two large three-ring binders stuffed full of nothing but photocopied keys for Western U.S. taxa and even that is far from complete for the region. - Tamerlane ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chanterelles/206404/5 "2003-10-09T03:32:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tamerlane \* > I am assuming these are your standard orangish chanterelle, not one of the dark or white species They are rather pink in color, and trumpet-shaped with blunt “gills” that extend down onto a tapering shaft (not true gills). Per your suggestion, I checked out the False Chanterelle - it looks like that’s not what I have. Thanks for the help. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chanterelles/206404/6 "2003-10-09T03:49:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xema \* > \*\*They are rather pink in color, and trumpet-shaped with blunt “gills” that extend down onto a tapering shaft (not true gills). \*\* Hmmff… North American Chanterelles should be (pale) orange, not pink… I usually identify chanterelles by smell; they give off a characteristic, very pleasant odour.