- Proposed
- Under Assessment
- Preliminary Assessed
- LCAssessed
- 5Published
Lactarius californiensis Hesler & A.H. Sm.
- Scientific name
- Lactarius californiensis
- Author
- Hesler & A.H. Sm.
- Common names
- IUCN Specialist Group
Mushroom, Bracket and Puffball- Kingdom
- Fungi
- Phylum
- Basidiomycota
- Class
- Agaricomycetes
- Order
- Russulales
- Family
- Russulaceae
- Assessment status
- Assessed
- Preliminary Category
- LC
- Proposed by
- Noah Siegel
- Assessors
- Noah Siegel
- Comments etc.
- James Westrip
Assessment Notes
Justification
Lactarius californiensis is a common species in northern California, likely associated with Tanoak. Often recorded as L. pallescens, a similar pale-capped species, often occurring in the same habitat, with larger spores; and by the misapplied name, L. uvidus; a species not known to occur in western North America.
Population is widespread, and no decline has been observed. We recommend it should be listed as Least Concern (LC)
Taxonomic notes
Described from a Type collection made in Mendocino County, California, USA (Hesler & Smith 1979). Previously refereed to as Lactarius uvidus group, and occasionally misidentified as L. pallescens.
Why suggested for a Global Red List Assessment?
Lactarius californiensis is a common species in northern California, likely associated with Tanoak. Often recorded as L. pallescens, a similar pale-capped species, often occurring in the same habitat, with larger spores; and by the misapplied name, L. uvidus; a species not known to occur in western North America.
Population is widespread, and no decline has been observed. We recommend it should be listed as Least Concern (LC)
Geographic range
From Santa Cruz County California north into central Oregon in coast and Coast Range forests, also in the northern Sierra Nevada foothills.
Population and Trends
Population is widespread, occurring in most of northern California’s mixed evergreen forests. Locally common from Sonoma county north through Humboldt County, California, occasional elsewhere. This species appears to be stable, no decline has been noted.
Population Trend: Stable
Habitat and Ecology
Ectomycorrhizal, occurring in mixed evergreen forests on Northern California and southwest Oregon. Likely associated with Tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus), possibly Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) or Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). Fruiting in fall into winter.
Threats
No specific threats have been identified with regards to this species.
Conservation Actions
No specific conservation actions is needed with regards to this species. No specific research is currently needed in regards to this species.
Research needed
No specific research is currently needed in regards to this species.
Use and Trade
None known.
Bibliography
Arora, D. 1986. Mushrooms Demystified. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 959 p.
Hesler, L.R. and Smith, A.H. 1979. North American Species of Lactarius. University of Michigan Press: Ann Arbor, MI. 841 p.
iNaturalist. 2021. Available at: http://www.inaturalist.org
Methven, A.S. 1997. The Agaricales (Gilled Fungi) of California. 10. Russulaceae II. Lactarius. Mad River Press: Eureka, CA. 79 p.
Siegel, N. and Schwarz, C. 2016. Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 601 p.
