Hygrophoropsis aurantiaca False Chanterelle

A common conifer forest fungus which has a yellow fruiting body whose cap is flat or centrally depressed and supported by a rather spindly stalk. Although it has gills, which are conspicuously decurrent, it is more closely related to boletes than to the agaric fungi. It has a largely saprophytic life style, decomposing conifer litter and it is found throughout Britain. It may be under recorded in Wales but it is a frequent species in the conifer forests of West Glamorgan. The tissues of the fruiting body contain significant amounts of arabitol, a sugar alcohol, which causes gastrointestinal disorders in some people.