Assessment Notes

Justification

Cantharellus betularum is a recently described species of chanterelle from Newfoundland, Canada. It is currently known from three localities, despite years of surveying the fungi of Newfoundland and Labrador. Suitable habitat is widespread, and not undergoing any large scale decline. Until this species is better known, and attempts have been made to locate C. betularum in similar habitat in other parts of north-east North America, this species is assessed as Data Deficient (DD).

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Taxonomic notes

Cantharellus betularum was first reported as North American records of C. amethysteus (Thorn et al. 2017), before being described as a distinct species (Thorn et al. 2020).

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Geographic range

This species is currently known from three localities in the Bay of Islands region of western Newfoundland, Canada (Thorn et al. 2020).

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Population and Trends

Cantharellus betularum is a recently-described species, currently known from three localities in Newfoundland, Canada. Data to assess population size and trends are lacking. Suitable habitat is widespread but to date, despite years of work on the fungi of Newfoundland and Labrador, it has not been found outside a small area on the west coast of Newfoundland.

Population Trend: Unknown

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Habitat and Ecology

Cantharellus betularum is an ectomycorrhizal species associated with birch (Betula papyrifera, B. cordifolia and B. alleghaniensis) (Thorn et al. 2020). Fruiting bodies are solitary or in colonies among leaf litter of Betula (Thorn et al. 2017, Thorn et al. 2020).

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Threats

No specific threats have been identified with regards to this species.

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Conservation Actions

No specific conservation actions have been identified with regards to this species at this time. However, a better understanding of habitat requirements and ecological constraints, population numbers, distribution, and trends is required.

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Use and Trade

Cantharellus betularum is edible, and most chanterelles are indiscriminately collected by foragers and small-scale commercial pickers.

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Source and Citation

Siegel, N. 2021. Cantharellus betularum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T198622579A198624903. Accessed on 23 November 2025.

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• Country occurrence