SPECIES FACT SHEET
Scientific Name: Gymnomyces fragrans (A.H. Sm.) Trappe, T. Lebel &
Castellano
Order: Russulales
Family: Russulaceae
Conservation Rankings and Status:
Global: G2G3
State: OR S1S3; WA Not ranked
Oregon Biodiversity Information Center (ORBIC) List 1
(Ranks from ORBIC, http://orbic.pdx.edu accessed August 16, 2013)
Type Locality: Idaho, Valley County, Brundage Mountain near McCall, Idaho
by Smith 1963 as Martellia fragrans. Studies of the genera of sequestrate
russuloid fungi by Lebel and Trappe led to amended generic descriptions of
Gymnomyces and elimination of the genus Martellia (Trappe et al., 2002).
Technical Description: Sporocarp 1-4.5 cm broad, globose or nearly so,
surface glabrous and usually with much dirt adhering, pallid to pale cinnamon
brown; Gleba loculate, white to off-white, browning with age; Odor vanilla-like;
Peridial epicutus of dermatocystidia 18-27 x 4-8 microns, bluntly fusoid and
many brown to ochraceous in KOH, the layer almost obliterated in age.
Peridial subcutus ochraceous to rusty brown in KOH, of interwoven filaments;
Spores globose to subglobose, 8-11 x 7.5-10 microns, amyloid, wall slightly
thickened, ornamentation as separate spines and rods 0.7-1.5 microns high,
some fused into small groups or lines.
This Gymnomyces is characterized by the brown gleba, medium-sized spores
with rods and spines that are somewhat connected and the turf of
dermatocystidia.
Life History: This taxon is hypogeous (grows underground) and a presumed
ectomycorrhizal former. Sporocarps are formed below the soil surface and are
associated with mountain hemlock or Douglas fir. Fruits June-November. It
depends on mycophagy (consumption by animals) for spore dispersal.
Range, Distribution, and Abundance: Known from California, Idaho, and
Oregon. In Oregon, the species is very rare, with only three known
populations.
Oregon: Lane Co., Lamb Butte Scenic Area, Ollallie Trail, Willamette National
Forest; Jackson Co. , 1.4 km ease of Dutchman’s Peak, Rogue-Siskiyou NF.
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California: Humboldt Co., Big Hill, Hoopa Indian Reservation. Plumas County.
FS/BLM lands in Oregon and Washington: Documented from the Willamette
and Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forests.
Habitat Associations: Populations have been located in the Pacific silver fir,
mountain hemlock and Shasta red fir plant associations. Populations range
from 4803-6853 feet in elevation and are found on east-facing (2 sites) and
west-facing (1 site) slopes.
Threats: Because the species is mycorrhizal any adverse impact to host trees
or actions that would disturb the soil and duff in the vicinity of fruiting bodies
could have an adverse effect on the species. Fire could be a potential harmful
agent to Cystangium idahoensis because the plant associations in which it is
found are subject to infrequent but stand-replacing wildfires.
Conservation Considerations: Buffer known populations from management
activities that include tree removal and soil compaction or disturbance.
Consider buffering populations from prescribed burns.
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/
David Aurora does not include this species in Mushrooms Demystified,
although he treats other Gymnomyces species in the MARTELLIA & Allies
section on p. 742.
Prepared by: Jenny Lippert, Willamette NF
Date: March, 2013
Edited by: Rob Huff, BLM/FS Portland, Oregon
Date: January, 2014
ATTACHMENTS:
(1)
References
(2)
Map of Species Distribution
Note: There are no photos available for this species.
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ATTACHMENT 1: References
Castellano, M.A., J.E. Smith, T. O’Dell, E Cazares and S. Nugent. 1999.
Handbook to the Strategy 1 Fungal Species in the Northwest Forest Plan, GTR476. USDA Forest Service, PNW Research Station, Corvallis.
Castellano, M.A and T. O’Dell. 1997. Management Recommendations for survey
and manage fungi. Version 2.0. Group 3: 1-20.
Smith, A.H. 1963. New astrogastraceous fungi from the Pacific Northwest.
Mycologia 55:421-441.
Trappe, James M., Teresa Lebel & Michael A. Castellano. 2002. Nomenclatural
revisions in the sequestrate russuloid genera. Mycotaxon 81: 195-214.
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ATTACHMENT 2: Map Species Distribution in OR/WA
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