- Scientific name
- Schenella simplex
- Author
- T. Macbr.
- Common names
-
- IUCN Specialist Group
Mushroom, Bracket and Puffball
- Kingdom
- Fungi
- Phylum
- Basidiomycota
- Class
- Agaricomycetes
- Order
- Geastrales
- Family
- Geastraceae
- Assessment status
-
Published
- Assessment date
- 2021-03-17
- IUCN Red List Category
-
LC
- Assessors
- Siegel, N.
- Reviewers
- Dahlberg, A.
Assessment Notes
Justification
Schenella simplex is a hypogeous fungus with a firm, rounded fruitbody with a felty exterior, a thick, tough inner wall and a gleba composed of very narrow, elongate peridioles radiating from a central rounded columella. This species is widespread in western North America, with no recorded decline, and so this species is listed as Least Concern (LC).
Taxonomic notes
It was originally described from Yosemite National Park in California, USA, as
Schenella simplex in 1902 (the type specimen was missing the peridium; likely eaten by a rodent, and was classified as a slime mold). Zeller (1944) described
Radiigera atrogleba from Idaho, which was later placed into the genus
Pyrenogaster (Domínguez de Toledo and Castellano 1996). Genetic and morphological studies (Estrada-Torres
et al. 2005), showed that
Pyrenogaster/Radiigera atrogleba was conspecific with
Schenella simplex.
Geographic range
It is widespread in western North America, from the Californian, USA, mountains into British Columbia, Canada, and in the northern Rocky Mountains, with scattered reports south into New Mexico.
Population and Trends
Currently it is known from over 100 collections, from a widespread distribution in western North America, with no evidence of decline.
Population Trend: stable
Habitat and Ecology
It is hypogeous, solitary, scattered, or in "nests" of multiple fruitbodies. Typically it is buried in duff and soil, occasionally erumpent, sometimes on wood. Surrounding duff is often found with binding mycelium. This species is saprotrophic, growing under Pinaceae, especially Douglas Fir (
Pseudotsuga menziesii), Ponderosa Pine (
Pinus ponderosa), true fir (
Abies spp.), and occasionally oaks (
Quercus spp.). Fruiting occurs in late winter and spring, occasionally fall.
Threats
No specific threats have been identified with regards to this species.
Conservation Actions
No specific conservation actions are needed with regards to this species, but research is required on population trends.
Use and Trade
No use/trade is known.
Source and Citation
Siegel, N. 2021. Schenella simplex. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T198485681A198488122.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T198485681A198488122.en .Downloaded on 24 September 2021