Cantharellus flavus is a species of golden chanterelle that was described from hardwood forests in Wisconsin, USA, and has also been recorded from DNA confirmed collections from Tennessee, North Carolina and Texas, and and a number of photographic records from across eastern USA.

Most historic records would have been recorded under the catchall name for golden chanterelles, Cantharellus cibarius. It also appears to be indistinguishable from C. tenuithrix in the field (Buyck et al. 2016), and can only be reliably distinguished by TEF-1 sequence data. Thus data to assess population size and trends is lacking, but based on habitat, and range between sequenced confirmed collections, it is likely this species is widespread, common, and occurs in a stable habitat. Therefore, a Least Concern (LC) ranking is warranted.

Cantharellus flavus was described from Wisconsin, USA (Foltz et al. 2013).

Currently Cantharellus flavus is believed to be indistinguishable from C. tenuithrix in the field (Buyck et al. 2016), and requires microscopic and/or by TEF-1 sequence data analysis.

Previous to work published on golden chanterelles in North America (Buyck & Hofstetter 2011, Foltz et al. 2013), records of this species would have been recorded under the catchall name, Cantharellus cibarius.

Cantharellus flavus is a species of golden chanterelle that was described from hardwood forests in Wisconsin, USA, and has also been recorded from DNA confirmed collections from Tennessee, North Carolina and Texas, and and a number of photographic records from across eastern USA.

Most historic records would have been recorded under the catchall name for golden chanterelles, Cantharellus cibarius. It also appears to be indistinguishable from C. tenuithrix in the field (Buyck et al. 2016), and can only be reliably distinguished by TEF-1 sequence data. Thus data to assess population size and trends is lacking, but based on habitat, and range between sequenced confirmed collections, it is likely this species is widespread, common, and occurs in a stable habitat. Therefore, a Least Concern (LC) ranking is warranted.

Geographic range remains poorly known for Cantharellus flavus, due to the past records being called by the catchall name, C. cibarius, and the current difficulty identifying golden chanterelles to species without TEF-1 sequence data analysis.

Sequenced-confirmed populations of Cantharellus flavus have been recorded from Wisconsin, Tennessee, North Carolina and Texas (Foltz et al. 2013, Buyck et al. 2016, MyCoPortal 2021), and photographic records cover much of eastern North America (Mushroom Observer 2021), suggesting a widespread species.

Too little is known about Cantharellus flavus to make a robust assessment on population size and trends.
Based on location of sequenced-confirmed populations in Wisconsin, Tennessee, North Carolina and Texas (Foltz et al. 2013, Buyck et al. 2016, MyCoPortal 2021), and photographic records from much of eastern USA (Mushroom Observer 2021) suggest populations of this species is widespread. Habitat C. flavus occurs is stable, and no decline of this species has been reported (although data to fully assess trends is lacking).

Cantharellus flavus is an ectomycorrhizal species, likely associated with hardwoods; especially oak (Quercus spp.), but possibly with conifers too. Buyck et al. (2016) note collections from “oak-hickory forest on sandy soil” and “upland pine forests”.

No specific threats have been identified with regards to this species.

No specific conservation actions have been identified with regards to this species at this time.

More documented collections of Cantharellus flavus, detailing habitat and tree association so we can better understand range and population extents of this species.

Cantharellus flavus (and all other golden chanterelles in North America) are edible, and are indiscriminately collected by foragers and small scale commercial pickers.

Buyck, B. and Hofstetter, V. 2011. The contribution of tef-1 se-quences to species delimitation in the Cantharellus cibarius complex in the southeastern USA. Fungal Diversity 49: 35–46

Buyck, B., Olariaga, I., Looney, B., Justice, J., and Hofstetter, V. 2016. Wisconsin chanterelles revisited and first indicationsf or very wide distributions of Cantharellus species in the United States East of the Rocky Mountains. Cryptogamie Mycologie 37(3): 345–366.

Foltz, M.J., Perez, K.E., and Volk, T.J. 2013. Molecular phylogenyand morphology reveal three new species of Cantharellus within 20 m of one another in western Wisconsin, USA. Mycologia 105: 447–461.

iNaturalist. 2021. http://www.inaturalist.org. Accessed on March 10.

Mushroom Observer. 2021. http://mushroomobserver.org. Accessed on March 10.

MyCoPortal. 2021. http://mycoportal.org/portal/index.php. Accessed on March 10