Described by Thiers (1979), from a collection made at Huntington Lake, in Sierra National Forest. Placement in Gomphaceae is assumed. Although it superficially resembles Gautieria (which reside in Gomphaceae), no DNA sequences exist for Protogautieria substriata confirming family.

Protogautieria substriata is a rare species; currently known from seven collections from four locations. Occurs in high elevation forests, under fir (Abies magnifica and A. concolor), and Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana) in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, USA.

Currently known from four sites in the Sierra Nevada in California, USA. Suitable habitat continues into the southern Cascade mountains of California.

Known from seven collections, from four locations, this species hasn’t been collected in over twenty years. Too little is known about this species to assess its population status or trends.

Hypogeous, solitary or scattered, buried in duff or soil. Known from subalpine forest, in association (likely ectomycorrhizal) with Pinaceae, especially under fir (Abies magnifica and A. concolor), and Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta ssp. murrayana). Collections have been made in spring and fall; it is likely to fruit through summer if conditions are favorable. This species is dependent on mycophagy (primarily eaten by small mammals) for spore dispersal.

Prolonged droughts and decades of fire suppression have drastically altered the high Sierra Nevada forests, leading to thicker, denser, Abies dominated forests. As a result, hotter, stand replacing fires (rather than patchwork and understory burns) are commonplace, altering appropriate habitat drastically, and making it ill-suited for this species.

This species should be added to United States Forest Service sensitive species list.

Identify potential habitat, and managed it for fungi.

Targeted surveys for presence or absents of this species in potential habitat.

Family placement, based on phylogenetics.

None known

Thiers, H.D. 1979. New and interesting hypogeous and secotioid fungi from California. Beihefte zur Sydowia 8: 381–390.

Trappe, J.M., Molina, R., Luoma, D.L., Cázares, E., Pilz, D., Smith, J.E., Castellano, M.A., Miller, S.L. and Trappe, M.J. 2009. Diversity, Ecology, and Conservation of Truffle Fungi in Forests of the Pacific Northwest. United States Department of Agriculture. Forest Service. Pacific Northwest Research Station. General Technical Report. PNW-GTR-772.