Assessment Notes

Justification

Lactarius saylorii is a rare species only known from a single collection, made in 1983 in the central Sierra Nevada mountains of California, USA. Its appearance should help to distinguish this species, and attempts should be made to relocate it. Until more data is available, it is not possible to accurately assess this species, and so it is listed as Data Deficient (DD).

---

Taxonomic notes

Described as Arcangeliella saylorii from a collection made in El Dorado County, California, USA (Thiers 1984). These sequestrate Lactarius have been called Arcangeliella. As its fruiting body form that has evolving multiple times within the genus Lactarius, this species was transferred to Lactarius (Kirk 2015).

---

Geographic range

This species is known from a single location in the central Sierra Nevada of California, USA.

---

Population and Trends

Currently it is only known from the type collection, made in 1983. Revisits to the type locality in 2016-2018 were not successful in relocating this species.

Population Trend: Unknown

---

Habitat and Ecology

It is hypogeous, scattered or clustered, buried in loose sandy and rocky soil; and is ectomycorrhizal, fruiting under White Fir (Abies concolor) in summer. This species is likely dependent on mycophagy (primarily eaten by small mammals) for spore dispersal.

---

Threats

Too little in known about this species to assess threats. The type location is a heavily trafficked campground, in which the habitat has drastically changed since this species was first discovered.

---

Conservation Actions

Attempts should be made to relocate a subpopulation at the type locality, or new subpopulations in similar habitat.

---

Use and Trade

No use/trade is known.

---

Source and Citation

Siegel, N. 2021. Lactarius saylorii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T195922169A195927058. Accessed on 22 November 2025.

---

• Country occurrence