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Xeroceps skamania

(Murrill) Audet

a fungus

G1Critically Imperiled Found in 2 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G1Critically ImperiledGlobal Rank
Very high - highThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.57.9772
Element CodeNFNHP00005
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryFungus
KingdomFungi
PhylumBasidiomycota
ClassBasidiomycetes
OrderRussulales
FamilyIncertae sedis (Order: Russulales)
GenusXeroceps
Synonyms
Albatrellus skamanius(Murrill) Pouzar
Concept Reference
Pouzar E. 1972. Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Albatrellus (Polyporaceae) I. A conspectus of species of the North temperate zone. Ceska Mykol. 26: 194-200.
Taxonomic Comments
Species Fungorum (2018) transfers Albatrellus skamanius to Xeroceps skamania.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2004-05-14
Change Date2004-05-14
Edition Date2025-02-04
Edition AuthorsJohnson, J. (2025)
Threat ImpactVery high - high
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences6 - 20
Rank Reasons
Xeroceps skamania is a fungus that grows in mature forests in the western United States from Washington to California. While direct threats are not documented, its habitat is known to be threatened by development, logging, fire, and road maintenance.
Range Extent Comments
Xeroceps skamania is known from western forests of the Pacific Northwest from southwest Washington to northwest California (GBIF 2025, MyCoPortal 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025). Range extensions in southwest Oregon and California confirmed by DNA barcoding (iNaturalist 2025). Specimens from China are now considered Xeroceps yunnanensis (Mycobank 2025). Range extent was estimated using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data collected between 1994 and 2025 (GBIF 2025, MyCoPortal 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025). There is some evidence that specimens identified as Albatrellus subrubescens in coastal California as far south as Santa Cruz may also belong to this species (Mushroom Observer 2025).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are 14 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2025, MyCoPortal 2025, iNaturalist 2025, NatureServe 2025).
Threat Impact Comments
Threats are not documented for this species but major threats to its mature forest habitat include development, logging, conversion to agriculture, wildfire, and fire suppression. Minor threats include recreation and collection by mushroom enthusiasts.
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Xeroceps skamania grows in mature conifer forests, primarily with Tsuga in the northern part of its range and Pinus in the southern part (MyCoPortal 2025, iNaturalist 2025).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - Conifer
Other Nations (1)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
OregonS1Yes
Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (2)
Oregon (2)
AreaForestAcres
W. BoundaryWinema National Forest2,345
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
References (8)
  1. CABI Bioscience, Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures & Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research Databases. 2005. Index fungorum. Available at www.indexfungorum.org (Accessed 2005).
  2. 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. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PNW-GTR-476. Northwest Research Station, Portland, OR. 195 pp. Online. Available: https://www.fs.usda.gov/pnw/pubs/pnw_gtr476.pdf
  3. Christy, John A. Personal communication. Wetlands/Aquatic Ecologist, Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center/Information Office of the Oregon Natural Resources Institute, Portland, OR.
  4. Ginns, J., and M.N.L. Lefebvre. 1993. Lignicolous corticioid fungi of North America: systematics, distribution, and ecology. Mycologia Memoirs 19, APS Press, St Paul.
  5. Index Fungorum and Species Fungorum. 2018. <i>In</i> Index Fungorum-Species Fungorum (<a href="https://indexfungorum.org" target="_blank">https://indexfungorum.org</a> and <a href="https://speciesfungorum.org" target="_blank">https://speciesfungorum.org</a>) database export on 16 June 2018. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  6. MyCoPortal. 2025. Mycology Collections Portal. Online. Available: https://www.mycoportal.org/portal/index.php. (Accessed 2025).
  7. Pouzar E. 1972. Contribution to the knowledge of the genus Albatrellus (Polyporaceae) I. A conspectus of species of the North temperate zone. Ceska Mykol. 26: 194-200.
  8. Wilson, N., Hollinger, J., et al. 2025. Mushroom Observer. <a href="https://mushroomobserver.org/">https://mushroomobserver.org</a>