A family of fleshy, often brightly coloured basidiomycetes characterised by smooth to wrinkled, vein-like folds, or primitively gilled on the underside rather than true gills. Fruitbodies are typically funnel-shaped, with solid, fibrous flesh and a pleasant, fruity odour in many species. Colours range from yellow and orange to whitish or pale. Cantharellaceae includes some of the best-tasting edible mushrooms found around the world. Unfortunately, in New Zealand, this is not the case.

A genus of fleshy, funnel-shaped mushrooms recognised by their thick, blunt, forked ridges on the underside rather than true gills. Fruitbodies are usually yellow to orange, with solid, fibrous flesh and often a fruity odour. The species are ectomycorrhizal, occurring on the ground in forest litter. True chanterelles are uncommon in New Zealand, represented mainly by a few native and introduced look-alikes.