Polyozellus | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Fungi |
Division: | Basidiomycota |
Class: | Agaricomycetes |
Order: | Thelephorales |
Family: | Thelephoraceae |
Genus: | Polyozellus Murrill 1910 |
Species | |
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Polyozellus | |
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Ridges on hymenium | |
Cap is infundibuliform | |
Hymenium attachment is irregular or not applicable | |
Stipe is bare | |
Spore print is white | |
Ecology is mycorrhizal | |
Edibility is edible |
Polyozellus is a fungal genus in the family Thelephoraceae, a grouping of mushrooms known collectively as the leathery earthfans. Previously considered a monotypic genus, it now contains the Polyozellus multiplex species complex. The genus name is derived from the Greek poly meaning many, and oz, meaning branch. It is commonly known as the blue chanterelle, the clustered blue chanterelle, bluefan,[1] or, in Alaska, the black chanterelle. The distinctive fruit body of this species comprises blue- to purple-colored clusters of vase- or spoon-shaped caps with veiny wrinkles on the undersurface that run down the length of the stem.
Polyozellus has had a varied taxonomic history and has been reclassified several times at both the family and genus level. The range of Polyozellus includes North America and eastern Asia, where it grows on the ground of coniferous forests, usually under spruce and fir trees. It contains edible species, and has been harvested for commercial purposes.