Assessment Notes

Justification

Rhizopogon olivaceotinctus is one of the most common post-fire ectomycorrhizal species in the Sierra Nevada and coastal pine forest of California. Although it is known from only around 25 collections it is highly under-reported and no threats have been identified. It is listed as Least Concern (LC).

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Taxonomic notes

It was described from California, USA (Smith and Zeller 1966). Alpova olivaceotinctus (A.H. Sm.) Trappe is a synonym.

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Geographic range

It is found occurring throughout the mountains and coastal pine forests of California, into southern Oregon, USA.

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Population and Trends

Although fruit bodies of this species are rarely collected (currently known from around 25 collections; MyCoPortal 2021), Rhizopogon olivaceotinctus is one of the most abundant ectomycorrhizal post-fire species in the Sierra Nevada and coastal pine forest (Glassman et al. 2015). Glassman et al. (2015) state “R. olivaceotinctus and R. arctostaphyli were the most frequent colonizers of Pinus ponderosa seedlings in the field” on post-Rim Fire plots near Yosemite National Park on Stanislaus National Forest, California, USA.

Population Trend: stable

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Habitat and Ecology

It is ectomycorrhizal with pine (Pinus spp.), fruiting on young pine trees following forest fires or disturbance. Fruitings are rare in mature forest. It forms spore banks in the soil, waiting for fire and forest regrowth to grow. The spores of Rhizopogon olivaceotinctus exhibit a high tolerance to heat (Peay et al. 2009).

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Threats

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

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Conservation Actions

This species is included on the United States Forest Service Northwest Forest Plan Survey and Manage list of rare/old-growth forest-dependent fungi, and has been actively surveyed for since the late 1990's (Castellano et al. 1999). No specific research is needed with regards to this species.

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Use and Trade

No use/trade is known.

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Source and Citation

Siegel, N. 2021. Rhizopogon olivaceotinctus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T198480035A198488183. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T198480035A198488183.en .Downloaded on 30 September 2021

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• Country occurrence