Cantharellus anzutake

Cantharellus anzutake, also known as Japanese golden chanterelle, is a species of fungus native to Japan and Korea. It is a member of the genus Cantharellus along with other popular edible chanterelles. It is named after the Japanese common name of chanterelle,.

Taxonomy

Part of the Cantharellus cibarius species complex, C. anzutake was described in 2018 from Japan.

Description

The pileus of C. anzutake is wide, and yellow, sometimes with a darker center. The hymenium is folded into decurrent ridges and cross-veins. The color of these ridges is usually similar to the cap, becoming whitish to pale cream near the stipe. The stem is long and wide, with white coloration. The spores are ellipsoid to ovoid, 7.3–8.8 × 5.1–6.1 μm.

Distribution and habitat

Native to Japan and Korea, C. anzutake forms a mycorrhizal association with Pinus densiflora, Carpinus laxiflora, and Quercus mongolica.

Uses

Cantharellus anzutake is an edible mushroom. Scientists have described a method of obtaining a pure C. anzutake culture from mycorrhizae and reported repeated fruiting of potted pine seedlings inoculated with the culture, potentially making cultivation feasible.