Observations on some enigmatic Cantharellus (Cantharellales, Basidiomycota) with lilac-violaceous tints from Africa and Madagascar

This paper deals with some extremely rare African and Malagasy chanterelles that have dark lilac-violaceous colors on the cap and/or stipe surface. Cantharellus longisporus ssp. littoralis and C. longisporus ssp. isaloensis are provisionally described as new subspecies from Madagascar. The identity of C. goossensiae needs to be investigated further and appropriate epitypification is urgently needed for these earlier described rain forest chanterelles. C. subcyanoxanthus is newly described as a possible close relative of C. goossensiae from woodland. The confusion surrounding the concepts of C. cyanoxanthus and C. longisporus is discussed. Morphological features, variability and species delimitation are discussed in detail.