Cortinarius truckeensis is a medium-sized to large, white-capped mushroom which fruits in spring and early summer in Jeffrey Pine forests of the east slope of the Sierra Nevada, and Ponderosa Pine forest in the Cascade Range. No other species of spring-fruiting Cortinarius has the combination of a white or pallid cap, thin, evanescent cortina, often clustered growth habit and amygdaliform to broadly fusiform spores. Although it can be abundant at the type locality, it’s currently only known from two locations within 20 km of each other north of Truckee, California, and single sites the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Oregon and in the Cascade Range in Washington. However, being a recently described species, and belonging to a difficult to identify group (Cortinarius subgenus Telmonia), likely under reported and more widespread.

Described by Bojantchev (2013), based on a collection made in Tahoe National Forest, north of Truckee, California, USA.

Cortinarius truckeensis is a medium-sized to large, white-capped mushroom which fruits in spring and early summer in Jeffrey Pine forests of the east slope of the Sierra Nevada, and Ponderosa Pine forest in the Cascade Range. No other species of spring-fruiting Cortinarius has the combination of a white or pallid cap, thin, evanescent cortina, often clustered growth habit and amygdaliform to broadly fusiform spores. Although it can be abundant at the type locality, it’s currently only known from two locations within 20 km of each other north of Truckee, California, and single sites the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in Oregon and in the Cascade Range in Washington. However, being a recently described species, and belonging to a difficult to identify group (Cortinarius subgenus Telmonia), likely under reported and more widespread.

Known from two voucher confirmed locations near Truckee, California, USA, from the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument in southern Oregon and one from Blewett Pass, Washington. Likely more widespread in Sierra Nevada and Cascade eastern slopes pine forest.

Cortinarius truckeensis is currently only known from two locations within 20 km of each other north of Truckee, California, from southern Oregon (J. Frank pers. comm.) and a single site in Washington (Siegel et al. 2019, Adams 2020). However, this recently described species remains poorly known, Cortinarius in general remain under studied and reported by mycologist and mushroom hobbyist. It’s preferred habitat, Jeffrey Pine and the closely related Ponderosa Pine forests are relatively widespread, but more data are needed to identify the additional factors that constitute suitable habitat for this species. Targeted surveys with observers familiar with field identification of similar species are needed to build a more accurate picture of appropriate habitats.

Ectomycorrhizal, associated with Jeffrey Pine (Pinus jeffreyi) at the California sites, but also with other Pinus or Pinaceae host. Fruitbodies often in clusters (more rarely solitary) in soil or duff; often pushing up the duff layer, but rarely breaking the surface. Fruiting in late spring and early summer.

Too little is known regarding this species’ habitat preferences to properly assess possible threats.

No specific conservation actions has been identified with regards to this species at this time.

Since this is recently described (Bojantchev 2013), and remains poorly known, surveys should be made in suitable habitat for this species.

None known.

Adams, S. 2020. https://nacorts.com/2019/01/13/cortinarius-truckeensis-sda-047/

Bojantchev, D. 2013. Cortinarius of California: Seven new species in subg. Telamonia. Mycotaxon. 123: 375–402

Siegel, N., Vellinga, E.C., Schwarz, C., Castellano, M.A. and Ikeda, D. 2019. A Field Guide to the Rare Fungi of California’s National Forests. Bookmobile: Minneapolis, MN. 313 p.