After a short historical overview of past systematic studies on Cantharellus, discussing delimitation and species diversity of the genus as well as previous, morphology-based, infrageneric classifications, this paper presents the first molecularly-based infrageneric classification of this genus using a multigene phylogenetic approach (nucLSU, mitSSU, RPB2 and tef-1) on a dataset that covers approximately halve of the described chanterelles worldwide, including many type specimens. Six subgenera are recognized and the recognition of subgenus Afrocantharellus as a separate genus is not accepted. The taxonomic value of individual morphological features is discussed as challenged by this new multigene phylogeny which comprises five new sections, one new subgenus and many emendations for previously recognized infrageneric groups. The paper discusses the observed discrepancy in biodiversity of Cantharellus when comparing between studies that focus either on below- or above-ground presence. A preliminary biogeographic hypothesis suggests an ‘out of Africa’ Gondwanan origin as a result of vicariance and subsequent migrations.
