How to identify Scaly Chanterelle

To correctly identify Scaly Chanterelle (Turbinellus floccosus), check each of these features in order. Misidentification is the most common cause of mushroom poisoning, so cross-reference multiple sources.

Step-by-step identification

1. 1

   Cap

   Shape, color, surface texture, and diameter.

   Bright orange, covered in scales, often with a wavy margin.

2. 2

   Gills

   Attachment to stem, color, and spacing.

   False gills, decurrent, forked, and orange in color.

3. 3

   Stem

   Length, shape, surface, and any ring.

   Pale orange to yellowish, smooth or slightly scaly.

4. 4

   Flesh

   Color, texture, and bruising reaction.

   White to pale orange, brittle.

5. 5

   Fruiting body

   Overall growth pattern.

   Vase-shaped with a scaly cap and a central stem.

6. 6

   Habitat

   Where it grows and on what substrate.

   Coniferous forests, often under pine or fir trees.

Key Facts

Cap surfaces

Scaly

Growth Form

Solitary or in small groups.

Spore Print

Yellowish.

Body color

Orange.

Odor

Fruity or earthy.

Flesh bruises

No significant bruising.

Height

5-15 cm

Cap Diameter

5-20 cm

Fruit body characteristics

• Gill attachment: Decurrent (running down the stem).
• Stem shape: Cylindrical or slightly tapered.
• Stem surface: Smooth or slightly scaly.
• Ring: Absent.
• Stem cross-section: Solid.

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