Polyozellus multiplex (Underwood) Murrill
North American Flora 9(3): 171. 1910.

Common Name: Blue Chanterelle

Synonyms: Cantharellus multipex Underwood; Cratarellus multiplex (Underwood) Shope

• Habitat

  Grows on ground, typcially in clusters. In California only known from the northwest corner of the state in spruce/fir forests.

• Edibility

  Edible but mediocre.

• Comments

  This distinctive blue to purplish mushroom has only a superficial realtionship to the chanterelles, such as Craterellus cornucopiodes. Both micro-mophological and molecular evidence firmly places Polyozellus multiplex in the Thelephorales, along with Thelephora, Sarcodon, Hydnellum, and Boletopsis.

• References

  Bigelow, H.E. (1978). The Cantharelloid Fungi of New England and Adjacent Areas. Mycologia 70(4): 707-756.
  Castellano, M.A., Smith, J.E., O'Dell, T., Cázares, E. & Nugent, S. (1999). Handbook to Strategy 1 Fungal Species in the Northwest Forest Plan. U. S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: Portland, OR. 195 p.
  Shope, P.F. (1938). Further Notes on Cantharellus multiplex. Mycologia 30(4): 372-374.
  Smith, A.H. (1949). Mushrooms in their Natural Habitats. Sawyer's Inc: Portland, OR. 626 p.
  Smith, A.H. & Morse, E.E. (1947). The genus Cantharellus in the western United States. Mycologia 39(5): 497-534.

• Other Descriptions and Photos
  • Michael Wood: Polyozellus multiplex (CP)
  • Michael Wood: Polyozellus multiplex (CP) -- The beautiful blue color fades soon after picking
  • Handbook to Strategy 1 Fungal Species in the Northwest Forest Plan: Polyozellus multiplex (D)
  • MushroomExpert.com: Polyozellus multiplex (D & CP)
  • Arora (1986): p. 668 (D), pl. 183 (CP)
  • Arora (1991): p. 12 (D & CP)
  • Lincoff: p. 397 (D), pl. 444 (CP)
  • Miller: sp. 264 (D & CP)
  • Smith & Weber: sp. 30 (D & CP)
  • Tylutki (1987): p. 64. (D & P)
  
  

  (D=Description; I=Illustration; P=Photo; CP=Color Photo)