Hemileccinum indecorum is a rarely encountered ectomycorrhizal fungus usually found growing in caespitose clusters on the ground in broadleaf forests dominated by Fagaceae or Dipterocarpaceae. While recorded from 5 countries, the number of records remains low. It has only been found once in Vietnam and Malyasia, twice in Thailand, 5 times in China, and has not been recorded from Singapore since 1931. This is a distinctive species and many mycologists focus their collecting efforts on this broad group of fungi (Boletaceae). Therefore the species is considered widespread but uncommon. It is estimated that there are at most 600 sites where this species occurs throughout its distribution with 3-4 mature individuals per site. Thus there is an estimated 2,400 mature individuals, but this may be a high estimate. Additionally, DNA sequence data suggest that this may be a species complex. There is insufficient data to estimate trends in the population beyond inferring that there is some population decline due to habitat loss. The species is assessed as Endangered.
Hemileccinum indecorum (Massee) G. Wu & Zhu L. Yang, in Wu, Li, Zhu, Zhao, Han, Cui, Li, Xu & Yang, Fungal Diversity 81: 98 (2016)
Boletus indecorus Massee, Bull. Misc. Inf., Kew: 75 (1914)
Boletus umbilicatus Massee, Bull. Misc. Inf., Kew: 205 (1909)
Corneroboletus indecorus (Massee) N.K. Zeng & Zhu L. Yang, in Zeng, Cai & Yang, Mycologia 104(6): 1423 (2012)
Pulveroboletus umbilicatus Singer, Agaric. mod. Tax., Edn 3 (Vaduz): 729 (1975)
The species was known for a long time from several tropical countries, has a characteristic appearance, and is easily identified in the field. At the same time, now it is rarely found everywhere, its finds are few, especially in recent years. Its number is probably decreasing.
The species in reported from 5 countries, Singapore (Massee 1914; Patouillard and Baker 1918; Corner 1972), Malaysia (Watling, 2001), from Hainan Island, China (Zeng et al., 2012), Southwest China; Vietnam (Pham, 2018), and Thailand. There are number of records of the species from Burundi in GBIF i (GBIF, Meise Botanical Garden Herbarium), but those are likely of a different species and are not included in this assessment.
Will update the information on Singapore collection dates.
While recorded from 5 countries the number of records remains low. For example In Vietnam it has only been found once on soil in small group in the Bu Gia Map National park. Similarly, it has only been reported from Thailand twice, once in the north and the other time in the eastern part of country. There are several historical records from Singapore, but it has not been reported since 1931. This is a distinctive species and many mycologists focus their collecting efforts on this broad group of fungi (Boletaceae) which supports the idea that the species is widespread but uncommon. It is estimated that there are at most 600 sites where this species occurs throughout its distribution. When found, it has occurred in a small caespitose cluster, likely 3-4 mature individuals. Thus there is an estimated 2,400 mature individuals, but this may be a high estimate. Additionally, DNA sequence data suggest that this may be a species complex. There is insufficient data to estimate trends in the population beyond inferring that there is some population decline due to habitat loss.
Population Trend: Decreasing
This ectomycorrhizal species is usually found growing in caespitose clusters on the ground in broadleaf forests dominated by Fagaceae or Dipterocarpaceae, with mixed Lythraceae, Rubiaceae, Theaceae, Lauraceae, and Arecaceae.
The main threat to the species is the destruction of the habitat by human activities, including tourism, agriculture areas, tea, coffee, and commercial forest plantations.
Some of the documented sites are in protected areas, but most of the records are from sites in need of protection.
Additional studies on population size, distribution, ecology and population trends are needed. Information to confirm ectomycorrhizal status and host preference is needed to better understand its habitat requirements. There is a possibility that this species is part of a complex, so additional DNA analyses are needed.
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