Oregon Symbols, Mushroom: Pacific Golden Chanterelle

Adopted in 1999.

The 1999 Legislature designated the "Pacific Golden Chanterelle" (Cantharellus formosus) formerly C. cibarius as the Official State Mushroom.

Dr. Kevin Winthrop decided Oregon needed a state mushroom. Winthrop and his legislator friend, Chris Beck to start the process for HJR 68.

Enlisting Jack Czarnecki, famed mushroom chef of Joel Palmer House fame, Lorelei Norvell, OMS's Ph.D mycologist, and Maggie Rogers, co-editor, Mushroom the Journal of Wild Mushrooming, the group met twice with legislators in early-morning hearings. Dr. Winthrop contacted some of his colleagues to call and urge passage of the bill. By the second hearing, they had their charts and factoids together. Photographs, a review of the OMS Chanterelle Study, market value of the harvest, nutrient values, and recipes! "The Pacific Golden Chanterelle, unique in Oregon's wild mushroom harvest: Cantharellus formosus, formerly thought to be Cantharellus cibarius."

They recommended it, and two senators volunteered to bipartisan support on the floor. When the other legislators urged moving on to "more important things," Chairman Charles Starr demurred, saying, "These people came all this way from Portland, and I think they have some interesting things to share with us." They did, and in spite of the media, became "The chanterelle's harvest is a peaceful harvest." The headline in the June 22, 1999 Oregonian read: "Fungi move faster than fiscal issues in Capitol." A tongue-in-cheek letter to the editor of the Statesman Journal was headed, "Mushroom measure wastes legislative time," and ended, "I will rise each morning with a song of mushroom praise warming my heart." By one vote, the bill passed.

One of the Best of the Turkey Bills, 1999 Legislative Session: Designates State Mushroom
HJR 68: This bill designates the Pacific Chanterelle as the official state mushroom.
 

Characteristics

(Cantharellus formosus) formerly C. cibarius & close relatives) are the best known wild mushrooms on the West Coast. The lovely, yellow-orange mushrooms have a fruity fragrance and chewy texture. They are found throughout the world, are nearly always sold fresh, and can be refrigerated for up to a month after picking. The fall crop from the coniferous forests of the Pacific Northwest is legendary. A slightly different species is abundant in the oak woodlands of California during the winter. In the summer, fresh chanterelles originate from Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, and eastern Europe.

The Chanterelle is a wild, but edible mushroom. Because of the high culinary value, approximately 500,000 pounds are harvested each year. Harvest occurs during the months of September, and October. In years with long, and wet falls; Chantrelle Mushrooms produce several harvests.

Chanterelle Mushrooms are often times found under a canopy of conifers; better known as Douglas Firs, and Western Hemlocks.

There are three major characteristics to look for when looking for "Pacific Golden Chanterelle" mushrooms.

1. The first characteristic is the graceful vase-shaped stalk which terminates with a flat cap,
2. the second is the rich yellowish/orange color of the mushroom, and the
3. third is the "false gills" which are blunt, and shallow; unlike the blade-like "true gills" seen on most mushrooms.

The third characteristic of the "Pacific Golden Chanterelle" is probably the most important of all. This character will allow you to tell the difference between the true chanterelle, and the false chanterelle which bears true, thin, blade-like gills.

Etymology:

Cantharus (Latin) and kantharos (Greek) meaning, beaker or vessel; formosus (Latin) meaning graceful, lovely, shapely, beautifully formed.