Assessment Notes

Justification

Lycoperdon rimulatum is a well characterized and easy-to-recognize medium-sized puffball with a very restricted European distribution on dry acidic sandy grasslands and heathlands (partly EU Natura 2000 habitat 2340 - pannonian inland dunes) in regions with a continental climate in central and eastern parts (recent records are fragmented and are only from Slovakia and Ukraine). Current known localities in Central Europe are restricted to isolated and, more or less, treeless military training fields surrounded by vast areas of pine plantations. The species is likely to have declined considerably due to afforestation of continental acidic sand dunes in continental areas of Europe, mainly Pinus to stabilize inland sand dunes. Even taking into account potential, as yet un-recorded localities for this species the total population size in Europe is estimated to number no more than 5,000 mature individuals, fragmented into multiple subpopulations, with no single subpopulation containing more than 1,000 mature individuals. Therefore, the European status of this species is assessed as Vulnerable C2a(i).

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Geographic range

In Europe this species has been positively recorded from Slovakia (Záhorie; < five localities, observed annually) and Ukraine (two records, one of which is recent). There are also reports from Spain (one single, doubtful record) and Italy (one doubtful record). A record from the Czech Republic has proved to belong to a different species (Lycoperdon decipiens; Kreisel 1963). A Russian record (Rostov region) has also proved to be erroneous.

The species has also been recorded outside of Europe in Canada, U.S.A., Mexico and Japan.

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Population and Trends

There are no records of Lycoperdon rimulatum in the classical mycological literature covering Europe. In Lloyd’s herbarium (BPI) there is a collection dating back to the early 20^th century, which somewhat doubtfully originates from Spain. It is therefore difficult to estimate its previous distribution and population status in Europe. The characteristics of the currently known localities shows a distribution connected with the occurrence of acidic sandy habitats in continental areas. This is substantiated also by the its habitat preferences in North America. In Europe these sandy areas have largely been afforested to stop sand drift and are today partly integrated in forestry management.

A dramatic decrease of potential habitat for L. rimulatum has occurred over the last 100 years or more. The more or less stabilized acidic sandy grasslands/heathlands in central Europe supposedly maintained their open character by grazing. However, today, decreases in grazing means the habitat tends to overgrow if not managed (e.g. unintentionally by military activity). This indicates that there is a continuing decline in the European population of L. rimulatum. The current population size in Europe is estimated to be very small. Based on available suitable habitat it is estimated that the species could inhabit 10 x the number of sites known to be currently inhabited, with 10 functional individuals per site (see Dahlberg and Mueller 2011). Assuming 10 ramets per functional individual (Dahlberg and Mueller 2011), would then give a total European population size of 5,000 mature individuals. The population would be split into multiple subpopulations, with no subpopulation containing more than 1,000 mature individuals.

Population Trend: Decreasing

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Habitat and Ecology

Lycoperdon rimulatum is a saprotrophic species of nutrient-poor, dry acidic sandy habitats in continentally influenced regions. In its Slovak localities it occurs in both totally tree-less grassland and in grassland/heathland with scattered Quercus and Pinus. This habitat agrees more or less with the EU Natura 2000 habitat 2340, which has a restricted European distribution and is a priority habitat in the EU. The former land management of this habitat was harvesting and grazing. The known localities of Lycoperdon rimulatum are situated in military training fields and are kept open mainly by the activities of the military. Surrounding areas are afforested with Pinus and no collections of L. rimulatum have been made in the adjacent forests, even though small relic sandy grassland habitats occur along paths and wheel tracks.

Reports of L. rimulatum from forested habitats in the US, however, indicate a somewhat wider ecology on a global scale. From Arizona it is reported to occur in grassy open areas or amid leaf or needle debris under Abies, Quercus and Pinus ponderosa. The Mexican records are from Pinus-Quercus forests.

Another species, Lycoperdon marginatum, is frequently found growing amongst L. rimulatum in Europe. L. marginatum seems to share habitat requirements with L. rimulatum but is much more frequent and has a much wider European distribution.

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Threats

The key threat to this species is from habitat deterioration due to afforestation and/or overgrowth as a result of a changing land use. These include forestry activities and decreased grazing activities.

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Conservation Actions

The occurrences in Central Europe are all situated in military areas. This means that they are not normally available to the public and the species is thus difficult to monitor. However, military areas have in many aspects kept their “original” character and have developed into huge refuges of relic habitats. For the survival of Lycoperdon rimulatum in Europe the known growing sites should preferably be declared as nature reserves with management plans ensuring their open and nutrient-poor character. Occurrences should be regularly monitored. L. rimulatum may take the role of an “umbrella” species, acting as an indicator species for a rare biodiversity hot-spot habitat. Dedicated search activities in related habitat types in central and eastern Europe could be initiated to get a clearer picture of the status of L. rimulatum and may reveal heathland habitats of extreme importance for their biodiversity. The high biodiversity of military training fields should be highlighted in nature conservation.

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Source and Citation

Jeppson, M. 2024. Lycoperdon rimulatum (Europe assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2024: e.T71609920A246019877. Accessed on 22 November 2025.

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• Country occurrence