Cantharellales

Cantharellales
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi Domain: Eukaryota Division: Basidiomycota Class: Homobasidiomycetes Order: Cantharellales
Families
Cantharellaceae    Craterellaceae    Gomphaceae    Hydnaceae   Scutigeraceae

The order Cantharellales has 16 species (0,1% of the described homobasidiomycetes). Their hymenium consists of thick gill-like folds, spines, or in some cases an almost smooth surface. The rudimentary gills show that this is a 'transition group' to the true gill-fungi (Agaricomycetidae).

The classification used in this article follows Courtecuisse (see references). The examples are of Northern European fungi.

Contents

1 Families 1.1 Cantharellaceae 1.2 Craterellaceae 1.3 Gomphaceae 1.4 Hydnaceae 1.5 Scutigeraceae 2 References

Families

Cantharellaceae

The hymenium of these fungi is covered by forking gill -like ridges ('false gills') and unlike Craterellus the stem is solid. They have smooth spores.

Examples: Chanterelle Cantharellus cibarius, Cantharellus tubiformis (= C. infundibuliformis), Pseudocraterellus undulatus.
. The chanterelle (see taxonomic box above) is a popular edible mushroom in Europe, often being sold in markets. It is apricot-coloured and also smells of apricots. Cantharellus tubiformis (sometimes spelt tubaeformis) is also sold commercially.

Craterellaceae

In this family the hymenium is more or less smooth and the stipe is hollow. The only well-known European species is the Horn of Plenty, Craterellus cornucopioides.

Gomphaceae

Gomphus clavatus is purple and has forking ridges and ornamented spores.

Hydnaceae

Viewed from above these fungi look like agarics (ordinary gilled mushrooms) but underneath they have spines instead of gills. Species: the Hedgehog fungus Hydnum repandum is quite common, H. rufescens is similar but redder.

Scutigeraceae

Small group of fleshy mushrooms with a porous hymenium.

References

• Régis Courtecuisse, Bernard Duhem: Guide des champignons de France et d'Europe (Delachaux & Niestlé, 1994).