New, Commercially Valuable Chanterelle Species, Cantharellus californicus sp. nov., Associated with Live Oak in California, USA

• Published in: Economic botany Vol. 62; no. 3; pp. 376 - 391
• Main Authors: Arora, David, Dunham, Susie M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer-Verlag 01.11.2008; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cantharellus; Cantharellus californicus; commercialization; ectomycorrhizae; forest trees; fungal anatomy; Life Sciences; molecular systematics; mushrooms; new species; Plant Anatomy/Development; Plant Ecology; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Plant Systematics/Taxonomy/Biogeography; Quercus virginiana; Special Mushroom Issue; taxonomy; temperate forests; Trends; weight; wild foods; Woodlands; California; Mushroom harvest; Cantharellus; Live oak; Oak chanterelle; Internal transcribed spacer (ITS–RFLP); Wild edible fungi; Chanterelle
• ISSN: 0013-0001; 1874-9364
• DOI: 10.1007/s12231-008-9042-7

A New, Commercially Valuable Chanterelle Species, Cantharellus californicus sp. nov., Associated with Live Oak in California, USA . The prominent golden chanterelle of California’s oak woodlands is characterized as a new species, Cantharellus californicus sp. nov., using molecular and morphological data. Our observations indicate that it is the largest Cantharellus species in the world, with individual sporocraps commonly weighing 1/2 kilogram (kg) (or 1 pound) or more when mature. Other Cantharellus species in California are compared and evaluated, including their known ectomycorrhizal hosts. The California oak chanterelle is an economically valuable species, and some observations on its commercial harvest are presented.