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Choiromyces alveolatus (Harkn.) Trappe

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Scientific name
Choiromyces alveolatus
Author
(Harkn.) Trappe
Common names
 
IUCN Specialist Group
Cup-fungi, Truffles and Allies
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Ascomycota
Class
Pezizomycetes
Order
Pezizales
Family
Tuberaceae
Assessment status
Assessed
Preliminary Category
LC
Proposed by
Noah Siegel
Assessors
Noah Siegel, Gregory Mueller
Comments etc.
James Westrip

Assessment Notes

Justification

Choiromyces alveolatus is a widespread, but uncommon hypogeous fungus in western North America; occurring from near sea-level to subalpine forests. It produces sporophores from early spring into fall; most common in spring; typically buried quite deep in mineral soil. Currently known from about 30 disjunct subpopulations; mostly in California, but also from nine locations from Oregon, and single sites in Washington, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. While some parts of its original range have probably been lost through development and the remaining habitat is probably declining in quality, its rate of population decline is not thought to be rapid enough to trigger listing under Criterion A so it is assessed as Least Concern.


Taxonomic notes


Why suggested for a Global Red List Assessment?


Geographic range

Widespread in western North America; but rarely collected. Known from the central coast, the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range in California, USA, north into Oregon and from solitary sites in Washington, Utah, Wyoming and Idaho (Siegel et al. 2019, MyCoPortal.org)


Population and Trends

Currently known from about 30 disjunct populations; mostly in California, but also from nine locations from Oregon, and single sites in Washington, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah (Siegel et al. 2019). This species is probably more common than current records indicate, but due to the cryptic nature (hypogeous sporophore producing, and often deep in soil), under reported. Six collections were made in California during the 2011-2013 USFS Mt Shasta California Survey and Manage mushroom surveys, and an additional collection was found during the 2019 USFS Rare Fungal Species workshop at Yuba Pass in California (N. Siegel, unpublished). Their are 15 observations (5 of which are Research Grade) on iNaturalist (Dec. 2024). While some parts of its original range has likely been lost through development and the remaining habit probably is declining in quality (see threats section), its rate of population decline is not thought to be rapid enough to trigger listing under criterion A.

Population Trend: Decreasing


Habitat and Ecology

Hypogeous, solitary or scattered in ‘nests’, usually buried quite deep in the mineral soil. Ectomycorrhizal, growing with Pinaceae, especially Red Fir (Abies magnifica). Occurring from near sea-level to subalpine forests; producing sporophores from soon after snow melt in early spring, through summer, or into fall.

Temperate Forest

Threats

Most recent collections have been made in high elevation, old growth Red Fir (Abies magnifica) forests; a number of historic collections come from the Sierra Nevada foothills, in areas that have been largely developed. Continued loss of habitat, decline in old growth forests, and hotter, stand replacing fires may be detrimental to this species. 

Housing & urban areasUnintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest]Increase in fire frequency/intensityHabitat shifting & alteration

Conservation Actions

No specific conservation actions have been identified with regard to this species at this time.


Research needed

Continued surveys for this species in western North America are needed to assess its range and population trends.

Population size, distribution & trends

Use and Trade

This species is edible, but due to its scarcity, rarely collected.

Food - human

Bibliography

Castellano, M., Smith, J.E., O’Dell, T., Cázares, E. and Nugent, S. 1999. Handbook to Strategy 1 Fungal Species in the Northwest Forest Plan. General Technical Report PNW-GTR-476. United States Department of Agriculture.

Gilkey, H.M. 1954. Tuberales. North American Flora 2(1): 1–36.

Harkness, H.W. 1899. Californian hypogaeous fungi. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences. 1(8):241–291

iNaturalis.org (December 2024)

MyCoPortal. 2024. Mycology Collections Portal. Available at: http://mycoportal.org

Siegel, N., Vellinga, E.C., Schwarz, C., Castellano, M.A. and Ikeda, D. 2019. A Field Guide to the Rare Fungi of California’s National Forests. Bookmobile: Minneapolis, MN. 313 p.

Trappe, J.M. 1975. Generic synonyms in the Tuberales. Mycotaxon 2:109-12

 


Country occurrence

Regional Population and Trends

Country Trend Redlisted