There is no criterion common to all the chanterelles. They are often described as having a fruiting surface made up of ridges (false gills) but for some species the fruiting surface is smooth.
Fruiting surface
Some chanterelles have a fruiting surface with forked ridges (false gills); in other species, the ridges are intervened. Other fruiting bodies combine these two characteristics, forked and intervened ridges.
Cap coloring
The coloring of the cap is also a major element because it is the first criterion that catches the eye on the field. The color is generally more intense on young fruitbodies, while it fades at maturity.
The shape
The shape of the fruitbody at maturity often tells us to which genus it belongs. However, at a young age, the fruitbodies can have a very different appearance because the cap is not yet developed; in many cases these descriptions give the characteristics of mature fruitbodies. This is why we encourage photographers to follow it up over time or to photograph fruitbodies of all ages.
The stipe
The stipe can be solid or hollow. In craterellus group, the stipe is full at a young age and becomes hollow at maturity. A depression gradually deepens as the stipe grows and this depression reaches its base at maturity.
The fruiting surface (hymenophore)
The look of the fruiting surface is a the criteria which confirm the name of the species: the color, the abundance of ridges, the ridges extend on the stipe, and even if they are forked or not.
The color of the context
The color of the context can be white, black or gray, or differently colored.
