Assessment Notes

Justification

Cantharellus friesii is a widespread, rare, ectomycorrhizal fungus, predominantly from Europe. It is predominantly associated with beech and oak in old-growth forest. The population size is estimated to be small, in the range 1,500-10,000 mature individuals. This is too high for consideration under criterion D, but does fall in the range for criterion C. However, the habitat type it is associated with is considered Least Concern in Europe, and with such a paucity of records it is not possible to suspect a current population trend for the species at the global level. Therefore, C. friesii is assessed as Least Concern, globally, although it is nationally considered threatened in multiple countries. Further research is required, and if the species were to be found to be in decline it may warrant a higher threat category.

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Geographic range

Cantharellus friesii is assessed here as a predominantly European species, potentially reaching into Western Asia. It is widespread across temperate woodlands in the European continent (see e.g. GBIF 2024). Records of this species from outside of this range are tentatively considered misidentifications or as undescribed species.

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Population and Trends

Cantharellus friesii is a rare species, and it is Red Listed in several national Red Lists in Europe (Tănase and Pop 2005, Holec and Beran 2006, Dämmrich et al. 2016, Smith et al. 2016). However, with such a wide distribution it is highly unlikely that the total population size, globally, will be very small. There are likely to be a minimum of 150 separate reported sites (see e.g. iNaturalist 2024, GBIF 2024), and taking into account unrecorded sites, the maximum total number of potential sites is estimated to be 500. Each site is estimate to contain a few genets per site, that would equate to 10-20 mature individuals per site (using Dahlberg and Mueller 2011 methodology). That would equate to a total population size estimate of 1,500-10,000 mature individuals.

The population trend is essentially unknown because, despite occurring in a widespread habitat type there are insufficient records of the species itself to ascertain any accurate trend information.

Population Trend: Unknown

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Habitat and Ecology

This is an ectomycorrhizal species with beech and oak, and potentially also with hazel, birch and hornbeam. It is most usually encountered in older growth forests, with higher pH and higher nutrient values in the soil (SLU Artdatabanken 2020).

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Threats

This is a rare but widespread species that is found in a habitat considered as Least Concern (see Janssen et al. 2016). There will be limited impacts of small-scale logging, especially as it is restricted to old-growth, broadleaved woodlands, which may be fragmented. Thus if it becomes lost from a site the likelihood of it recolonising an area would be low.

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Conservation Actions

This species is Red Listed in several national Red Lists in Europe (e.g. Tănase and Pop 2005, Holec and Beran 2006, Dämmrich et al. 2016, Smith et al. 2016). It is a rare species that requires further recording effort. On the northern edge of its range it is recommended that site protection and habitat management would benefit the species (Brandrud et al. 2021). Taxonomic work should be conducted for this species to accurately ascertain the species' limits, and to verify if extralimital records truly represent Cantharellus friesii.

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Use and Trade

This is a widespread edible species.

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Source and Citation

Dahlberg, A. 2025. Cantharellus friesii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T227507136A265962953. Accessed on 22 November 2025.

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• Country occurrence