# Chanterelle (Cantharellus cibarius)

**Cantharellus cibarius**

**Known today as.** A golden, apricot-scented mushroom with blunt ridges for gills.

Kind: Fungus

## What was it used for?

One of the great edible fungi of Europe.

## What does modern science say?

A safe and nutritious food once correctly identified.

## Pharmacognosy and toxicology

- **carotenoids**: the pigments
- **ergocalciferol (vitamin D2)**: a good source; formed from ergosterol by UV light
- **chanterelle polysaccharides**: 

**Mechanism.** A safe edible, a good source of vitamin D2 and carotenoids; its poisonous look-alike the jack-o’-lantern is the hazard. In the Materia Medica for the table and the forager’s caution only.

**Dose.** A food.

**Standing.** A food.

## What lore surrounds it?

Its poisonous look-alikes include the jack-o’-lantern and, for the careless gatherer of young caps, the deadly webcap (see [Deadly webcap](https://thethinkingpress.org/materia-medica/deadly-webcap)).

## Sources

- Wikipedia, “Cantharellus cibarius,” en.wikipedia.org (read 2 October 2026).
- Wikipedia (de), “Echter Pfifferling,” de.wikipedia.org (read 2 October 2026).
- Kumar, A., et al. (2025). Nutritional, nutraceutical, and medicinal potential of *Cantharellus cibarius* Fr.: a comprehensive review. *Food Science & Nutrition* 13: e4641.
- Phillips, K. M., et al. (2012). “Vitamin D4 in mushrooms.” *PLoS ONE* 7.

---

*Chanterelle.* In *Materia Medica*, edited by B. C. P. Statema. Version 1, revised 2026-10-03. The Thinking Press. https://thethinkingpress.org/materia-medica/chanterelle

Historical description, not medical advice.