Gomphus clavatus, commonly known as the Pig's Ear or Violet Chanterelle, is a distinctive ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete found in coniferous forests of the Northern Hemisphere. The fruit bodies are typically vase-shaped or fan-shaped, often growing in cespitose (fused) clusters that can resemble a bouquet. The cap surface is smooth to slightly velvety, ranging in color from violet-lilac in young specimens to yellowish-tan or ochre-brown as they mature. Unlike true chanterelles, the flesh is thick, brittle, and meaty rather than fibrous.
Native: North America (Pacific Northwest, Rocky Mountains, Northeast), Europe (Alps, Carpathians, Scandinavia), Asia (Himalayas, East Asia). Widespread but increasingly rare in Europe, where it is Red Listed in 17 countries and extinct in the British Isles. It remains locally common in parts of western North America.
No strains cataloged yet for this species.
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