Trichoderma alutaceum

Species Fungorum (2018) transfers Podostroma alutaceum to Trichoderma alutaceum.

Known from Britain, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Japan and the northern spotted owl region of Pacific Northwest North America. These fruiting bodies are relatively small, but they stand out against the duff and forest floor litter. Many mycologists have been and are interested in this group of fungi and tend to prize their finds like trophies. Thus if this species were common, the evidence would be in herbaria around the world. Given its wide distribution the species is not in danger from local events, but it is rare throughout its range and thus of concern.

The species could be present but patchy in the north temperate zone of the northern hemisphere. It is known from Britain (Cannon et al. 1985), Norway (Bendicksen et al. N.d.), Denmark (Danish Conservation Committee n.d.r), Sweden (Samuelsson n.d.), Japan (Imazeki et al. 1988), and the northern spotted owl region of Pacific Northwest North America (ISMS database).

On a world basis this species is known from Britain (Cannon et al. 1985); is on the red lists as R in Norway (Bendicksen et al. N.d.) and Denmark (Danish Conservation Committee n.d.r); is rated DD in Sweden (Samuelsson n.d.), and is reported from Japan (Imazeki et al. 1988). Nine collections are listed in the ISMS data base for the range of the northern spotted owl . Roughly nine sites, many historical, are represented in MICH collections (Fogel n. d.); they may be 9 sites without lats and longs in ISMS. Additional collections from the northwest, possibly from Oregon, are deposited at WSP but data on them is not immediately available.

This is a species of mature forests with abundant rotting wood. Threats to the forest habitat are also threats to this fungus. Thus logging, mining, fire, and development are all possible threats.