Macroscopy – Sporophores gregarious or in groups. Cap 2-4(-6) cm diam., convex then flattened to infundibuliform, not very fleshy; margin first curved, long rounded, finally strongly lobed and wavy; pileipellis smooth, dry or slightly greasy, bright orange (6AB8), gradually becoming paler with age. Stipe (2-)3-4(-5) × 0,4-0,6 cm, straight or slightly attenuated and curved towards the base, sometimes flattened and grouped, dry, dull, bright orange like cap, full and sometimes becoming hollow. Hymenophore decurrent, well distinguished from the stipe by its paler yellowish colour (4-5A2-3), formed of broad, well-formed, well-spaced folds (7-8/cm at the margin), bifurcated towards the margin, strongly veined, with fairly regular lateral connections; ridge even and colourless. Flesh whitish to yellowish, unchanging. Odour pleasant, fruity. Taste fairly strong and pleasant. Spore print almost white.

Microscopy – Spores (7.6-)7.6-8.6-9.7(-9.8) × (3.8-)3.8-4.4-4.9(-4.9) µm, Q = (1.73-)1.7-1.97-2.24(-2.3), smooth, ellipsoid, sometimes medially constricted. Basidia clavate, elongate-cylindrical, narrow, 5(-6)-spores, 55-70 × 5-7 µm. Cystidia absent. Clamp connections absent.

Ecology – Ectomycorrhizal, associated with Julbernardia, Brachystegia spiciformis, more rarely Marquesia macroura; miombo.

Note – Cantharellus humidicola is closely related to other small to medium sized yellow-orange chanterelles such as  C. gracilis and C. microcibarius. However, under the microscope, C. microcibarius is distinguished by the presence of clamp connections. Furthermore, C. gracilis and C. microcibarius have on average less elongated spores (Q < 1.8) than those of C. humidicola (Q > 2). Cantharellus pseudocibarius also resembles C. gracilis but is only present in dense moist forests.