Host associations of early Cantharellus
Whereas the clampless C. elsae may shed some doubt as to whether or not some of the more ancient Cantharellus were associated with Nothofagus, remarkably few chanterelles are associated with this host tree genus. Of the three reported chanterelles that do so, both C. elsae and the New Caledonian C. garnierii appear to be host generalists (Ducousso et al. 2004), whereas the very small C. nothofagorum R. H. Petersen & Mueller is only known from the type collection in Argentina. Based on morphology, both latter chanterelles would seem to fit in subgenus Cinnabarinus or Parvocantharellus.

With the exception of the few afibulate species described by Eyssartier et al. (2009) from Malaysia (all placed by our phylogeny in clade 2=subgenus Afrocantharellus ), the sole other afibulate chanterelle from outside Africa was described from New Zealand: C. elsae (G. Stev.) Horak. This apparently rare species, collected under Nothofagus, but able to grow with Kunzea/Leptospermum (Myrtaceae), is an entirely pinkish chanterelle with widely spaced gills. It lacks clamp connections and does have predominantly 5–6 spored basidia (Eyssartier 2001), contrary to what is mentioned in the original description and the redescription of the type by McNabb (1971), both of which report 4-spored basidia. Cantharellus elsae therefore is most likely a good species of Cantharellus and should not belong in Craterellus as suggested by Petersen and Mueller (1992), a recombination motivated at the time probably precisely because of the lack of clamp connections. The fact that it was first published as a Hygrophorus is a possible indication that it is very similar to species in subgenus Afrocantharellus.

[Notes from Kew Type specimen, PRJ 2010] Other Stevenson collection in K, GS 1081 Original Stevenson label used Cantharellus rather than Hygrophorus

Under Nothofagus and Leptospermum ericoides. Nelson: Lake Rotoiti, 21.iv.l954, G. Stevenson 948 (HOLOTYPE, K).

Pileus 3-4 cm diam., hemispherical or joined in irregular spathulate groups, dry, matte or subfibrillose, pallid salmon. Cuticle a cutis, composed of repent, slightly interwoven, thin-walled, septate hyphae 4-6 µm diam., terminal cells unspecialised, clamp connections absent. Lamellae deeply decurrent, distant, thick, irregularly forked, salmon, running into shallow grooves on the stipe. Stipe 2-3 cm long, 0.5-1 cm diam., or fused in irregular groups, dry, matte, velvety, concolorous with pileus. Cuticle a palisade of thin-walled, subclavate cells 50-75 X 7-10 µm, of hymenial origin as indicated by occasional functional basidia. Spores ovate-elliptical or ovate, hyaline, inamyloid, apiculate, 7.5-10.5 x 4.5-6 µm, thin-walled, smooth. Hymenium continuous; basidia hyaline, long, cylindrical to subclavate, often with yellowish contents, 74-144 x 7.5-10.5 µm, 4-spored, sterigmata to 8 µm long: cystidia absent. Hymenophoral trama without organisation composed of thin-walled, hyaline, septate hyphae 4-6 µm diam.; clamp connections absent. Context of pileus pinkish, rather brittle.

TYPE LOCALITY: Lake Rotoiti, Nelson, New Zealand.

Gregarious or caespitose under native trees.

Stevenson, Kew Bull. 16: 376, fig. 2. pl. 7, fig. 5. 1962.

Only two species of Cantharellus have been reorted from under Nothofagus in New Zealand (Segedin, 1987). One of these species, C. elsae (Stevenson) Horak (Horak, 1971), originally described as a Hygrophorus (Stevenson, 1963), is evidently a Craterellus based on McNabb's (1971) report of absence of clamp connections. This species was found under Nothofagus in Nelson on the South Island.

Pileus 3-4 cm. Diam., pale salmon, hemispherical or joined in irregular spathulate groups, matt or subfibrillose; flesh pinkish, somewhat brittle. Gills deeply decurrent, salmon, thick, distant, irregularly forking, running into shallow grooves on the stipe. Stipe 2-3 X 0.5-1 cm., or in irregular fused clumps, concolorous, matt, velvety. Spores 5.5-6 X 9-9.5 µm., ovoid, hyaline, Basidia 60-70 X 8 µm., four-spored.

habitat: in litter under Nothofagus, Lake Rotoiti, Nelson, 21.4.19541 Stevenson, & E. Kidson. 16.5,1956.

Pileus 3-4 cm, diam,, dilute salmoneus (pilei singuli hermisphaerici, sed saepe irregulariter catervatim conjuncti), impolitus vel subfibrillosus; came roseola subfragili. Lamellae longe decurrentes, salmoneae, crassae, distantes, irregulariter furcatae, in canaliculos tenues ad stipitem transeuntes. Stipites singuli 2-3 X 0.5-1 cm., sed saepe irregulariter fasciculati, concolores, impoliti, velutini. Sporae 5.5-6 X 9-9.5 µm. ovoideae, hyalinae.

 Typus: Stevenson 948,