Assessment Notes

Justification

Sedecula pulvinata appears to be a rare species, but it may be under-recorded because of its inconspicuous appearance. Since it has a wide range in North America, and no decline has been reported, the species is assessed as Least Concern.

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Geographic range

This species is known from high elevation forest from the south-central Sierra Nevada of California, USA, north into the southern Cascade Range in southern Oregon, the sky islands across the great basin, and the Rocky Mountains.

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Population and Trends

It is widespread across the western North American mountains, but rather rare. It occurs in drier, high elevation forest, however, little is known about what makes habitat suitable for this species. More data are needed for a proper assessment of trends.

Population Trend: Unknown

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Habitat and Ecology

It grows completely buried to partially exposed in duff under conifers in drier, high elevation forest, especially under fir (Abies spp.) and pine (Pinus spp.). Fruiting is in summer and early fall, and fruitbodies may persist into late fall. It is believed to be saprotrophic.

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Threats

Prolonged droughts and decades of fire suppression have drastically altered the high Sierra Nevada forests, leading to thicker, denser, Abies dominated forest. As a result, hotter, stand replacing fires (rather than patchwork and understory burns) are commonplace, altering appropriate habitat drastically, and making it ill-suited for this species.

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Conservation Actions

Targeted surveys for this species are needed that include identifying habitat suitable for this species.

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Use and Trade

No use/trade is known.

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Source and Citation

Siegel, N. & Cunha, S.P. 2026. Sedecula pulvinata. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2026: e.T290320892A290321612. Accessed on 10 July 2026.

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• Country occurrence