Hypomyces luteovirens

Mycobank (2025) recognizes Sphaeria luteovirens as the accepted name for this element.

Probably throughout the cooler parts of the North Temperate zone. Within the broad range of this species, documented occurences are relatively few compared to those of the host species and to some other species in the genus.

Probably throughout the cooler parts of the North Temperate zone but little information is available on the fungi of the former Soviet Union and much of Asia.

The species was described from Sweden and is widespread in north temperate regions. It has been reported from 12 European countries, 6 Canadian Provinces, 34 US states, and Japan ( Rogerson and Samuels 1994); no accurate count of the number of occurrances could be made. In western North America, it is known from Alaska south into California. According to the ISMS database 11 sites for this species were located within the region of the northern spotted owl. Historic collections (pre 1950) from this region at MICH (Fogel n.d.) include 4 from Oregon, and 1 from Washington; one recent collection from Arizona is listed. Callan et al. (n.d.) list one collection from British Columbia. The OSC (n.d.) web site lists a single collection from Washington.

Given the broad distribution of these species, it is unlikely to be eliminated throughout its range under normal circumstances. Factors that affect the survival of the host species are important to the survival of this species; the common hosts are ecotomycorrhizal fungi and thus depend on certain species of trees for their survival. Certain bracket fungi also serve as hosts for this species so the elimination of coarse woody debris from forests may adversely impact this species indirectly.