Perplexostereum endocrocinum is a polypore known from Nepal, Bengal and South-western China, where it is reported to be common. Population size is projected to be above thresholds for threatened categories and though habitat loss may present a threat to this species, population decline is difficult to estimate since there are multiple possible hosts. Therefore, the species is assessed as Least Concern (LC).

Perplexostereum endocrocinum is the only species in the monotypic genus Perplexostereum, created in 2014 due to its distinct morphological characteristics (Ryvarden and Tutka, 2014) and molecular data (Liu et al., 2017).
Synonym: Stereum endocrocinum

The species is generally mentioned exclusively for Nepal, where it has been documented in Yangma valley and the Kanchenjunga National Park (Ryvarden and Tutka, 2014), and more recently for South-western China (Liu et al., 2017). However, there is also one record of the species in Behala, Bengal from 1931 (Banerjee, 1935).

This species has been documented for two sites in Nepal (in 1850 and 2012), in one site in Bengal (1931) and in China. It is unclear whether all these sites still exist or correspond to mature populations, but the species is presumed to have a wide distribution at high-altitudes in South-western China (Liu et al., 2017). Following Dahlberg and Mueller (2011) guidelines, population size is projected to be above thresholds for threatened categories.
Global Forest Watch (2023) does not report significant deforestation in the area, but some Abies sp. and Juniperus sp. forests in China have been assigned threatened categories in the Red list of China’s forest ecosystems (Chen et al. 2020). Still, given that there are multiple possible hosts it is difficult to estimate a decline in population due to habitat loss.

Grows on dead coniferous wood. It was found at high altitudes with Cupressaceae in China (Liu et al., 2017) and on Juniperus or Abies spp. in Nepal (Ryvarden and Tutka, 2014). No habitat information is available for specimens found in Bengal.

Some Abies sp. and Juniperus sp. forests in China were classified as threatened in Red list of China’s forest ecosystems (Chen et al. 2020), which could present a threat to this species.

Protection of appropriate habitat, namely Abies sp. and Juniperus sp. forests, is needed to ensure protection of the P. endocrocinum.

Search efforts in the regions where the species was found in the past and in areas of suitable habitat are needed to confirm the current population size, trends, and distribution of the species.