Phaeocollybia attenuata

Endemic to the Pacific Northwest. Phaeocollybia attenuata is a relatively uncommon to rare species that is patchy in distribution throughout its range. It has been found primarily in older coniferous forests above 65 years in age and is more frequently encountered in late-successional or old-growth Picea sitchensis or Tsuga heterophylla forests in low-lying coastal areas.

Endemic to the northern spotted owl region in western North America. Occurrences range from the Olympic Peninsula south to the San Francisco area of California (where it is considered rare) east to Mt Rainier National Park and south to the west slope of the Cascades near Eugene, Oregon (Norvell 1998ac).

~120 known occurrences have been confirmed for this organism; this includes 39 reports of collections made between 1900 and 1994. (Norvell 1998a, 1998c, pers. Comm. 2002; Dreisbach et al. 2002; ISMS database 2002); Castellano 1999).

Ectomycorrhizal fungal stability depends on the stability of the coniferous partners, so that what threatens the extant forests threaten the organism. This species appears restricted to mature (i.e. 65 year old) to late-successional old-growth forests and has not been collected from disturbed habitats (Norvell 1998ab, Norvell pers. Comm. 2002). It also appears to grow slowly. (Norvell 1998ab) Would be threatened by hot fires, development, and heavy logging activities. Dreisbach et al. (2002) note that 28 sites occur within the Myrtlewood RA, which has a 3-mile radius; a hot fire could halve the extant sites in Oregon.