Described from Washington, USA (Smith and Morse 1947) as Cantharellus kauffmanii, later transferred into the genus Gomphus (Corner 1966). Phylogenetic studies (Giachini 2004, Giachini & Castellano 2011) erected the genus Turbinellus (with T. floccosus as Type), to accommodate these species.

Turbinellus kauffmanii is a widespread species; with populations in western and eastern North America. Population is stable, and no decline has been noted. Therefore, I recommend listing as Least Concern (LC).

Turbinellus kauffmanii is reported from much of North America; but these reports likely represent a species complex; western populations (corresponding to the Type) are widespread in northern California, in coast, Coast Range and Sierra Nevada forests, continuing north throughout the Pacific Northwest into southern British Columbia, Canada.

Eastern North American populations are from southern Canada, throughout northeast USA, west to the upper mid-west, south in the mountains.

Population is widespread in both western North America, and the northeast and mountains in eastern North America. Even if eastern and western North America populations end up being distinct species, both populations are very widespread. No decline has been noted.

Ectomycorrhizal with conifers; especially fir (Abies spp.) and hemlock (Tsuga spp.), from low elevation to montane forests in western North America, and with hemlock and pine (Pinus spp.) in eastern North America. Western populations appear to have a preference for, but are not restricted to mature forests.

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

This species was included on the US Forest Service Northwest Forest Plan species of special concern (Castellano et al. 2003).

Populations from eastern North America should be compared genetically with western North American collections.

None known.

Castellano, M.A., Cázares, E., Fondrick, B. and Dreisbach, T. 2003. Handbook to additional fungal species of special concern in the Northwest Forest Plan (Gen. Tech Rep. PNW-GTR-572). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station: Portland, OR. 144 p.

Corner, E.J.H. 1966. A Monograph of Cantharelloid Fungi. Oxford University Press: London, England. 255 p.

Giachini A.J. 2004. Systematics, Phylogeny, and Ecology of Gomphus sensu lato. Ph.D. Dissertation. Oregon State University: Corvalis, OR.

Giachini, A.J. and Castellano, M.A.. 2011. A new taxonomic classification for species in Gomphus sensu lato. Mycotaxon 115: 183–201.

iNaturalist. 2021. https://www.inaturalist.org

Mushroom Observer. 2021. http://www.mushroomobserver.org

Smith, A.H. and Morse, E.E. 1947. The genus Cantharellus in the western United States. Mycologia 39(5): 497-534.

Siegel, N. 2019. USFS Species profile: Turbinellus kauffmanii. Internal Forest Plan Document, unpublished.

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