Craterellus lutescens is a species of edible fungus in the family Cantharellaceae. It is commonly known as Yellow Foot (or Yellowfoot), and in French as craterelle jaune, and in Catalan as camagroc. It was formerly classified under the genus Cantharellus and has also been referred to as Cantharellus lutescens, Cantharellus xanthopus, or Cantharellus aurora.
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by Elias Magnus Fries and later transferred to the genus Craterellus. Its current binomial name is Craterellus lutescens (Fr.) Fr. It belongs to the division Basidiomycota, order Cantharellales, and family Cantharellaceae. It is closely related to Craterellus tubaeformis, with which it is sometimes confused.
Description
Craterellus lutescens is a trumpet-shaped mushroom with a slender, hollow stipe. The cap is irregularly lobed, funnel-shaped, and ranges in color from brown to bistre (a dark brownish-gray). The cap becomes deeply depressed with age. The hymenium (the spore-bearing surface) is almost smooth or slightly veined, and is typically pastel orange, creamy yellow, or pinkish in color—distinctly brighter than the gray hymenium of C. tubaeformis. The stipe (stem) is bright yellow-orange. Overall, the species is more brightly colored than its close relative C. tubaeformis.
Habitat and Distribution
This species is commonly found growing in large colonies in wet, mossy coniferous forests. It favors habitats under spruce, mountain fir trees, and pinewoods, often near the seashore. It is particularly associated with cold conifer bogs and wetlands, where it grows on the ground among moss and on decaying logs. It has been documented in North America (notably in northern Michigan) and across parts of Europe.
Edibility
Craterellus lutescens is edible and is appreciated in cooking. It is commonly harvested and consumed fresh. It is considered a choice edible mushroom, though proper identification is essential to distinguish it from lookalikes.
Research
An extract of Craterellus lutescens has been shown to exhibit inhibitory activity on thrombin, an enzyme involved in blood coagulation, suggesting potential bioactive properties of interest in pharmacological research.
References
- Multiple authors (1999). The Encyclopedia of Mushrooms. Chanterelle Translations, London. p. 204. ISBN 3-8290-1728-6.
- Phillips, Roger (2010). Mushrooms and Other Fungi of North America. Buffalo, NY: Firefly Books. p. 251. ISBN 978-1-55407-651-2.
- Doljak, B.; Stegnar, M.; Urleb, U.; Kreft, S.; Umek, A.; Ciglarič, M.; Štrukelj, B.; Popovič, T. (2001). "Screening for selective thrombin inhibitors in mushrooms". Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis. 12 (2): 123–8.
