The most common Chanterelle species in the Dandenongs and wide Yarra ranges is the petite orange to pink Cantharellus concinnus.
The concept of concinnus has likely been applied to multiple species with potentially very different characteristics ranging from SE Queensland down to Tasmania and across to WA. In fact a recent review of some websites designed to capture reports of flora and fauna record overtly different species as concinnus which probably adds to the confusion.
Phenotypes include fairly pink and orange varieties in WA to our yellow orange ones here in Victoria and Tasmania to varieties up in NNSW and SEQ that appear to be quite petite but are reported has having a strong flavour and scent (unlike those in Victoria):
The Victorian variety generally occurs in Messmate Stringybark forest and occasionally under Casuarina.
Cantharellus concinnus: The apricot chanterelle
Frequently Asked Questions
The edibility of Australian Cantharellus concinnus has not been officially established. While the concept of “concinnus” has been applied to potentially multiple species across Australia, Victorian specimens from the Dandenong Ranges generally lack the strong flavour of European and American chanterelles. FNQ varieties reportedly have much stronger flavour similar to overseas species.
Cantharellus concinnus typically occurs in Messmate Stringybark (Eucalyptus obliqua) forest and occasionally under Casuarina in the Dandenong Ranges and wider Yarra Ranges. A separate, potentially new chanterelle species has also been found under Oak and Chestnut trees in the Dandenongs. FNQ chanterelles grow under different host trees in tropical rainforest environments.
Multiple chanterelle species exist in Australia, though taxonomy is still evolving. Known species include Cantharellus concinnus (the most common Victorian species), an unnamed FNQ tropical chanterelle, and a recently discovered species in the Dandenong Ranges growing under Oak/Chestnut that DNA places between Cantharellus minor and Cantharellus albus. The concept of “concinnus” itself may encompass multiple distinct species across different Australian states.
