About Craterellus atrocinereus D.Arora & J.L.Frank
Craterellus atrocinereus, commonly called the black chanterelle or California black chanterelle, is an edible fungus species native to western North America. This uncommon mycorrhizal species associates with live oak, tanoak, and Oregon white oak in Oregon and northern California. It is found most often in areas near Monterey Bay. The species has a "fruity-cheesy" odor, and produces its fruiting bodies in winter and spring. This bluish-gray to black chanterelle was previously classified as Craterellus cinereus, but was formally recognized as a separate species in 2015. Its specific epithet references C. cinereus: the Latin prefix atro- means dark, while cinereus, which relates to cinders, refers to the fungus' smoky gray color.
