SPECIES FACT SHEET
Common Name: gastroid russula
Scientific Name: Macowanites mollis Singer & A.H. Smith 1960
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Russulales
Family: Russulaceae
Conservation Rankings and Status:
Global: G1G2
State: OR S1
Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (ORBIC) List 1
(Ranks from ORBIC, http://orbic.pdx.edu accessed August 16, 2013)
Technical Description: Sporocarps 10-30 mm wide, depressed-globose to
depressed-pileate, surface white, somewhat slippery or greasy, drying
cinnamon tan. Gleba white to tan. Stem-columella reduced, percurrent
(extending fully through spore mass) or nearly so, stipe 4-6 x 2-3 mm, white.
Spores globose, 10-15 um in diameter or subglobose to ellipsoid, 11-14(-16) x
9.5-13 um, ornamentation of small spines unconnected or fused in groups of
2-3, 0.6-1 um high and +/-0.25 um broad at base, completely covered with
amylaceous material, spore wall thin to slightly thickened.
Species of Macowanites are regarded as close relatives of Russula and Lactarius
and like these genera, exhibit brittle sporocarps, with stems breaking cleanly
like a piece of chalk. Characteristic features of Macowanites mollis include its
white peridium, much reduced stem, and “extremely narrow elements” of spore
ornamentation.
Life History: Macowanites mollis is a sequestrate fungus whose mycorrhizal
hosts appear to include Abies grandis, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Tsuga
heterophylla at elevations above 3250 feet. Sporocarps have been found in
July and September.
Range, Distribution and Abundance: Known globally only from within the
Northwest Forest Plan area of Oregon and Washington, including the
Washington Western Cascades, Washington Olympic Peninsula and Oregon
Western Cascades Physiographic Provinces. Known from approximately 4
sites. There was 1 detection of this species recorded during Random Grid
CVS/FIA plot surveys: Olympic National Forest in Washington.
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FS/BLM lands in Oregon and Washington: Documented on Spokane District
BLM. Documented on the Olympic National Forest and Columbia River Gorge
National Scenic Area.
Habitat Associations: Occurs in Pacific Silver Fir (50%) and Western Hemlock
(50%) vegetation zones at elevations of 1124-3855 feet.
Threats: As with mycorrhizal fungi in general, current literature suggests that
threats to local occurrences of this species include events and/or activities that
negatively impact either the fungal mycelium or the mycorrhizal hosts. Such
impacts can be caused by moderate to severe fire, removal of a large percentage
of host plants (and the attendant reduction in canopy cover and reduction in
moisture content of upper soil layers), removal of large woody debris, and soil
compaction. Such impacts can reduce both fungal biomass and species
diversity within communities of ectomycorrhizal fungi for periods ranging from
several years to multiple decades.
Conservation Considerations: Revisit known localities to confirm persistence
and determine extent of populations. Conduct surveys to locate new
populations. Buffer known sites from adjacent vegetation management
activities. When conducting vegetation management activities in areas with
good habitat potential, consider leaving scattered and clumped host trees and
ample coarse woody debris, while minimizing soil compaction and burn severity
of activity-related fires.
Other pertinent information (includes references to Survey Protocols,
etc): The survey protocol for sensitive fungi is located on the ISSSSP website:
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/sfpnw/issssp/documents/inventories/inv-sp-fuver1-2008-12.pdf.
The survey protocol for Survey and Manage fungi is located on the Survey and
Manage website: http://www.blm.gov/or/plans/surveyandmanage/protocols/
Prepared by: Rick Dewey, Deschutes NF
Date: April, 2013
Edited by: Rob Huff, BLM/FS Portland, Oregon
Date: January, 2014
ATTACHMENTS:
(1)
References
(2)
Map of Species Distribution
(3)
Photographs of Species
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ATTACHMENT 1: References
Arora, David. 1979. Mushrooms Demystified – A Comprehensive Guide to the
Fleshy Fungi. Ten Speed Press, Berkeley, California. 959 pp.
Castellano, M.A., J.E. Smith, T. O’Dell, E. Cazares, and S. Nugent. 1999.
Handbook to Strategy 1 Fungal Species in the Northwest Forest Plan. PNWGTR-476.
Cushman, Kathleen and Rob Huff. 2007. Conservation Assessment for Fungi
Included in Forest Service Regions 5 and 6 Sensitive and BLM California,
Oregon and Washington Special Status Species Programs. R6 USFS and
OR/WA BLM Interagency Special Status/Sensitive Species Program ISSSSP).
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/sfpnw/issssp/planning-tools/
Ferriel, Jenifer and Katie Grenier. 2008. Annotated Bibliography of
Information Potentially Pertaining to Management of Rare Fungi on the Special
Status Species List for California, Oregon and Washington. R6 USFS and
OR/WA BLM Interagency Special Status/Sensitive Species Program (ISSSSP).
http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/sfpnw/issssp/planning-tools/
Oregon Biodiversity Information Center. 2013. Rare, Threatened and
Endangered Species of Oregon. Portland State University, Institute for Natural
Resources. 111 pp. http://orbic.pdx.edu/rte-species.html
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ATTACHMENT 2: Map of Species Distribution
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ATTACHMENT 3: Photos of Macowanites mollis
No photograph available, but see photo in Castellano et al., 1999.
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