Assessment Notes

Justification

Xerocomellus atropurpureus is a common and widespread bolete in western North America. It occurs in a wide variety of habitat types, from young to mature forests, in association with both conifers and hardwoods. No decline has been observed. It is listed as Least Concern (LC).

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Taxonomic notes

Xerocomellus atropurpureus was a "cryptic species" hiding under the epithet Xerocomellus (Boletus) zelleri. It was recently described as a distinct species (Frank et al. 2020), and is far more common and widespread than X. zelleri.

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Geographic range

It occurs in coastal and coast range forests from Santa Barbara County, California, USA, and from the southern Sierra Nevada in montane forests, north into southern British Columbia, Canada. Also, it is found in the northern Rocky Mountains in eastern Washington and Idaho.

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Population and Trends

The population is widespread and stable across western North America.

Population Trend: stable

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Habitat and Ecology

It is ectomycorrhizal with conifers, and occasionally oaks (Quercus spp.), in a wide variety of habitat types in both old and young forest. It is especially common in northern Californian mixed evergreen forests and throughout the Pacific Northwest in coast to montane conifer forests. Fruiting is in fall and early winter, or occasionally in spring on the California and Oregon coast, and summer at higher elevations.

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Threats

This species is common and widespread in a wide variety of habitats, and no threats have been observed.

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Conservation Actions

No specific conservation actions are needed with regards to this species, and no specific research is needed either.

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Use and Trade

This species is edible, and occasionally collected for food.

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Source and Citation

Siegel, N. 2021. Xerocomellus atropurpureus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T198480979A198487704. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T198480979A198487704.en .Downloaded on 24 September 2021

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• Country occurrence