Lactarius aurantiosordidus is a small, dingy colored member of the Lactarius ‘deliciosus’ group, growing with Sitka Spruce on the Pacific Coast from northern California into Alaska.

Because it belongs to a difficult to distinguish complex of species, data to assess trends and total population is lacking, but the widespread occurrence, and local abundance suggest that it should be listed as Least Concern.

This species was described from northern California (Nuytinck et al. 2006).

Some collections appear to have been called Lactarius deliciosus var. olivaceosordidus (Hesler & Smith 1979, Methven 1997).

Lactarius aurantiosordidus is a small, dingy colored member of the Lactarius ‘deliciosus’ group, growing with Sitka Spruce on the Pacific Coast from northern California into Alaska.

Data to assess trends and total population is lacking, but the widespread occurrence, and local abundance suggest that it should be listed as Least Concern.

Known from coastal forests from northern California into southeast Alaska, roughly following the distribution of Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) (iNaturalist 2021, N. Siegel unpublished data).

Population is widespread; but being a recently described, and hard to identify species, date to assess trends is currently lacking. Locally common to abundant on the far northern California and Oregon coast, and also seen with regularity in Alaska (N. Siegel unpublished data).

Ectomycorrhizal with Sitka Spruce (Picea sitchensis) in coastal forests. Fruiting in summer in the north, into late fall in the southern portions of its range.

Climate change is affecting Sitka Spruce forests on the southern portion of its range; but probably not at a scale to affect the population overall.

Widespread logging in British Columbia, Canada and southeast Alaska, USA.

Protect mature and old growth spruce forests in British Columbia and Alaska. Data to assess trends, and population data across the range of this species.

Data to assess trends, and population data across the range of this species.

This species is edible, but appears to be rarely collected.

Hesler, L.R. & 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.

Nuytinck, J., Miller, S.L. and Verbeken, A. 2006. A taxonomical treatment of the North and Central American species in Lactarius sect. Deliciosi. Mycotaxon. 96:261-307

Siegel, N. and Schwarz, C. 2016. Mushrooms of the Redwood Coast. Ten Speed Press: Berkeley, CA. 601 p.