This species occurs on the uncommon Orchidaceae Goodyera repens and other species of this genus. It is rare in Britain and vulnerable elsewhere.

Proposed classification LC (Least concern)

The main range for this species is North America, where it occurs on a number of host species. In Europe the rust appears to be restricted to Goodyera repens. Although the host is widely distributed in Europe and rust infection is obvious on the plants, there are very few records of this fungus in Europe.

Apart from the wider distributed populations in North America, there are at least two populations in Scotland, and known records come from Switzerland, Russia and Finland. The Scottish populations are stable with a degree of uncertainty.

The host plants occur in bogs and wet forests

There are currently no major threats; future threats could be due to wind farm development, drainage of bogs and general development of the land habitat.

Much of the habitat has some form of protection.

The species appears to be stable in the North American distribution. However, it is not known whether it still persists in Russia Switzerland and Finland, and research activity in these and neighbouring countries where the host is known should be encouraged.

Anon. 2015. Online Atlas of the British and Irish flora. http://www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/index.php?q=node/1801
Wilson M & Henderson DM. (1966). British Rust Fungi. University Press, Cambridge.
Helfer S. (1993). Rust fungi - A conservationist’s dilemma. In: Pegler DN, Boddy L, Ing B & Kirk PM. Fungi of Europe: Investigation, Recording and Conservation. 287-294. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Evans, S., Henrici, A., & Ing, B. (2006). The Red Data List of Threatened British Fungi. BMS [WWW document] URL http://www.britmycolsoc.org.uk/index.php/download_file/view/528/ [accessed 4 March 2015].
Farr, D.F., & Rossman, A.Y. Fungal Databases, Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved March 12, 2015, from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/