Assessment Notes

Justification

Psiloboletinus lariceti is a bolete with a large distribution in mountain and taiga regions in Russia, and to a lesser extent in Mongolia, and northeastern China. Its population size is estimated to be above 75,000 mature individuals. P. lariceti is thought to form mycorrhizal associations with Larix sp., but this relationship is not well defined. A population decline is likely due to habitat loss in part of its range, but is difficult to establish across its whole distribution. Therefore, the species is assessed as Least Concern (LC).

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Taxonomic notes

Psiloboletinus lariceti is the type species of this monotypic genus based on its morphologic characteristics and confirmed through phylogenetic analysis (Wu et al. 2020).

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Geographic range

This species is found in Siberia, Far East Russia, northern Mongolia and northeastern China (Wu et al. 2020).

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Population and Trends

Psiloboletinus lariceti is known from more than 15 sites and has a large area of potential distribution in Asia (Wu et al. 2020, GBIF 2023). Following guidelines by Dahlberg and Mueller (2011), the population size is estimated to be above 75,000 mature individuals.

Population declines in at least part of its range are likely due to a decrease in area of habitat, i.e. Larix sp. forests, caused by overexploitation. However, since P. lariceti likely associates with different Larix species across its range, it is difficult to estimate the rate of population reduction.

Population Trend: Decreasing

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Habitat and Ecology

Psiloboletinus lariceti can be found on the soil, solitary to clustered. It is thought to be ectomycorrhizal and occurs under Larix sibirica and L. gmelinii, and in mixed forests dominated by Larix with Betula, Pinus, Rhododendron or Populus species, in taiga and mountain habitats (Wu et al. 2020).

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Threats

Different Larix forests have been classified as threatened in the Red List of China’s forest ecosystems ranging from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered due to a reduction of geographic distribution in a period of 50 years (Chen et al. 2020). Larix forests face pressures from overexploitation.

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Conservation Actions

Protection of Larix sp. forests in this region is essential to prevent further declines in population size. Research into ectomycorrhizal relationships for this species is needed to confirm putative hosts and improve estimates of the impact of habitat loss.

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Use and Trade

Psiloboletinus lariceti is an edible species, sometimes collected in large quantities in Russia (Wu et al. 2020).

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Source and Citation

Cunha, S.P. & Gonçalves, S.C. 2025. Psiloboletinus lariceti. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2025: e.T273603377A273893848. Accessed on 22 November 2025.

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• Country occurrence