Chanterelle

The chanterelle is one of the most recognizable types of edible mushrooms. The mushrooms are shaped like cups or trumpets with gills running down the stem and yellow in colour. They are found in many forests and considered quite delicious. There are similar species, some of which are inedible or even slightly poisonous, so one should only pick them if one is sure that they really are chanterelles.

Chanterelles form symbiotic relationships with coniferous and deciduous trees in which their mycellum connects with the trees roots. The mushrooms help the trees to get water and nutrients out of the ground more efficiently, while the tree provides the mushroom with sugars it cannot produce on its own. Thereby, the trees and mushrooms help each other to survive and thrive, helping each other to survive challenging circumstances like droughts or harmful fungal infections.

Many other types of mushrooms and plants also are able to form similar symbiotic relationships, allowing the ecosystem forest to function and thrive through almost anything. While most of these relationships are symbiotic, some mushrooms, as well as some plants are parasitic, meaning they try to get the benefits of symbiosis without giving back to the other part of the relationship.