A Eurasian species with a wide distribution. and a large estimated population. Nitrophilous in deciduous forests and gardens. A potential increase in northern Europe due to nitrification combined with effects of global warming. Regionally threatened when growing in open habitats (overgrowth).
Suggested assessment: LC

Widely distributed species on the Eurasian coninent but has a markedly western tendency (although not known from the British Isles). It reaches eastwards to Ukraine, southern Russia, Kazachstan and Uzbekistan. Not recorded on other continents.

Appr 100 records on GBIF.
AOO: 1200 km2

Estimated number of localities 500
Estimated number of mature individuals: 10000

A potential increasing population in northern Europe due to a combination of nitrification of forest habitats and global warming.

Saprotrophic species in deciduous woodland and gardens on nutrient-rich soil (nitrophilous); also under Juniper bush or fully exposed in dry grassland habitats on calcareous soil. Thermophilous.

Presumably not threatened as it prefers strongly nitrophilous habitats in a variety of deciduous forests as well as in gardens. In Scandinavia an ongoing increase in population has been noted, possibly due to a combination of nitrification of deciduous woodland and global warming.
A regional habitat decline may be ongoing in places where G. melanocephalum grows in open grassland (with Juniper) due to abandoned grazing and subesequent overgrowth.