MushieChanterelle vs Deadly webcap: how to tell them apart
Beginners foraging in mossy conifer woods have mistaken the deadly webcap for a chanterelle because both are orange-brown. Chanterelles have blunt, forked false ridges and a funnel-shaped cap, while the deadly webcap has true, rust-brown gills, a pointed central bump on the cap and a cobweb-like veil when young.
Side-by-side comparison
 Cantharellus cibarius |  Cortinarius rubellus | |
|---|---|---|
| Safety status | Edible (expert ID) | Deadly |
| Cap | Egg-yolk to pale yellow, 3–10 cm, wavy and funnel-shaped | Orange-brown to tawny, 3–8 cm, with a pointed central bump (umbo) |
| Underside | Blunt, forked, vein-like ridges that run down the stem (false gills) | Rust-brown, widely spaced gills; a cobweb-like veil when young |
| Stem | Solid, tapering, same colour as the cap, no ring | Yellowish-brown, often with faint yellow bands, fibrous |
| Smell | Faintly of apricot | Faint, radish-like |
| Spore print | Pale cream | Rusty brown |
| Habitat | Mossy conifer, beech and oak woods | Acid soils among moss in conifer and birch woods |
| Season | Jun – Nov | Aug – Nov |
Photos: Wikimedia Commons contributor, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Eric Steinert, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick tests that separate them
- Underside: blunt, forked yellow ridges (chanterelle) vs true rust-brown gills (deadly webcap).
- Cap shape: wavy funnel (chanterelle) vs domed or conical with a pointed central bump (deadly webcap).
- Spore print: pale cream (chanterelle) vs rusty brown (deadly webcap).
- Deadly webcaps contain orellanine, which causes delayed, irreversible kidney damage.
Key clues for each
Chanterelle: Blunt, forked ridges that look melted into the stem, a solid stem, apricot smell, growing on soil (never in dense clusters on wood).
Deadly webcap: Orange-brown pointed cap, rust-coloured gills and a rust-coloured spore print. Treat all orange-brown Cortinarius as deadly.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell chanterelle from deadly webcap?
Beginners foraging in mossy conifer woods have mistaken the deadly webcap for a chanterelle because both are orange-brown. Chanterelles have blunt, forked false ridges and a funnel-shaped cap, while the deadly webcap has true, rust-brown gills, a pointed central bump on the cap and a cobweb-like veil when young.
Which is more dangerous, chanterelle or deadly webcap?
Deadly webcap (Cortinarius rubellus) is the dangerous one. Contains orellanine, which damages the kidneys. Symptoms may only appear 2 to 20 days after eating, by which time permanent kidney failure can have occurred.
Is it safe to identify mushrooms from photos or a website?
Never eat a wild mushroom based on an app or a website. Confirm identification and edibility in person with a qualified local expert.
Compare in the field
Photograph your find with Mushie to see possible matches and the look-alikes to rule out. Results are suggestions, never a safe-to-eat verdict.