Chanterelle Identification help...

[Deitz Dittrich]

So, went for a little hunt this morning.. And found these. I know that the main look a like is the jack-o-lantern.. These do not look like the picts I see of jacks.. But I have never found Chanterelles before. ANd I am always really nervous about a first identification. These were found on the ground near each other but not really in clusters. Not on tree at all. I am weary about the gill pattern as all my books say a distinct forked gill.. yet when I look at picts on the net, not all seem to have distinctive forked gills.. Little help please..

[reinhard1]

dont rely on me on identification but they do look like chanterelle's. the jackolanterns have a more smooth top and not the irregular sides and indented tops. jackolanterns from what i have seen on line grow in small clusters more than indeviduals. i found this site informative: backwoodshome.com/articles2/winterissue#101

hope someone more experienced than me comes up with better info. good luck.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Thanks bud- A little back track.. The wife and I went out looking for chants and Chickens.. We found some crown top corals, a few puff balls. And then these.. The second I saw them I thought chants.. but After I picked one or two I looked at the gill pattern and was confused. I know chants do not have a gill per say, but ridges.. these confused me.. So I left them... came home for a few hours and did research, they did not look like jacks, but more like false chants.. so I went back, and picked a lunch paper bag full, maybe 15 or so.. but looked at the area.. there are at least 80 more young that will be ready in the next day or two..

I have 3 books, and did more than 3 hours of searching on the net.. and still am only 85-90% sure they are chants.. I want to see the for sure forked gills. But have seen picts of MN chants that are EXACTLY like mine. I may chunk off a 1/2" and risk the stomach pain... Jacks dont kill you, just make you sick..

[reinhard1]

LOL!! i will be the same. heck you are at least experienced at this. Morels look like they look. these can be confusing. my dad could go through the woods and had no problem what he picked. well that was years ago. mostly because there were similar or the same in germany. i love shrooms and like you be wary of what i'm not sure of but once confident this will be a wonderful activity for the family. i'm going to take the grandkids out to help so they learn also. good luck.

[ramjam]

Look like chants to me, but I would never give anyone the go-ahead without seeing them up close for myself. Chanterelle flesh is white(unless very old and half rotted), jack's flesh is pale orange. Chanterelles also have a very distinct sweet, fruity smell(some say like apricots). As for the gills, jacks are true, sharp-edged gills. Each gill can be removed individually. Chants have false gills that look like forked folds and ridges and cannot be removed individually(actual flesh will peel). These are more difficult to discern on small, young mushrooms as the folds are quite small and very close together.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Well, I cleaned them up, quartered them.. White on the inside and solid, and for sure smell of apricots. So I fried one up for breakfast. Still alive and no stomach ache, I think I am good to go and plan to go back and harvest more of the crop. Yee haw..

[JP Z]

Let me know if you die so I can come get your boat.

[pureinsanity]

  jpz said:

Let me know if you die so I can come get your boat.

Ill take the Boston Whaler!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Neener neener... I survived.... and I am keepin all my toys!!!

and the shrooms were AWESOME!!!

[Stick in Mud]

Great find, Deitz. There's nothing like finding a nice batch of edibles for the table. Who knew a fella could have so much fun OFF the water?!?