(3 votes, average: 4.33 out of 5)
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Amethyst Chanterelle
Edible 
Autumn 
Summer
One of the less common members of the edible Chanterelle family. It was considered a variety of the common chanterelle but is now regarded as a separate species. Just as tasty and sought after, it may be more common than is recorded but overlooked by people thinking it is the common form. Usually in groups. Only to be picked if abundant.
| Mushroom Type | |
| Common Names | Amethyst Chanterelle (EN), Pieprznik Ametystowy (PL), Ibolyás Rókagomba (HU) |
| Scientific Name | Cantharellus amethysteus |
| Synonyms | Cantharellus cibarius var. amethysteus |
| Season Start | May |
| Season End | Oct |
| Average Mushroom height (CM) | 4-7 |
| Average Cap width (CM) | 3-8 |
Cap
3-8 cm. Flattened at first with irregular margin becoming depressed towards the centre. Often undulating all round the edges, less inclined to become funnel shaped than the common chanterelle. Yellow but with a complete or patchy coating (sometimes more towards the edge, sometimes more towards the centre) of tiny purplish scales that fade with age.
Gills
Does not have true bladed gills but forked, slightly rounded folds that look like gills. These run part way down the stem (decurrent). Tend to be paler than the cap.
Stem
3-8 cm long, 0.5-1.5 cm diameter. Solid, often paler than the cap, yellow or pale yellow, tapering towards the base. It can be hard to determine where the ‘gills’ end and the stem begins.
Flesh
White becoming yellow or brownish with age.
Possible Confusion
The False Chanterelle (Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca), pictured, looks similar but is more orangey yellow, when cut in half it does not have the white flesh of the true Chanterelle but is concolorous with the cap, and its gills are more crowded. Said to be edible but poor in older books, it can apparently cause food poisoning symptoms and even hallucinations for some people so it’s better avoided.
The poisonous Jack O’Lantern (Omphalotus illudens), is a very rare mushroom in Britain, it grows on deciduous wood, it has true gills and is bigger and darker orange in colour.
Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius), is a much more yellow colour. It is normally larger and prefers more acidic soil. It has broader mycorrhizal partner range, prefers Beech, Birch, Oak, Spruce and Pine. Its fruity smell is similar to apricot.
Frosted Chanterelle (Cantherellus pallens), is similar but larger and has a pale yellow cap with a dusting of white, particularly near the middle.
Pale Chanterelle (Cantharellus ferruginascens), looks rather similar to the Frosted Chanterelle, however there is no whitish dust-like cover at centre of its cap. It is one of the rarest amongst the Chanterelles in the UK.
Spore Print
Pale yellow. Ellipsoid.
Frequency
Uncommon
1 comment for Amethyst Chanterelle
I feel you may be correct about the amethysts being under reported.
My local area has predominantly amethysts (8/10 spots will give only this type). With this year being so wet, it has them springing up in patches that have never fruited before. Last year yielded none whatsoever in any of my patches as it was so dry, but on the other hand gave basket fulls of pest free Ceps, never seen anything like it before.