Phaeocollybia olivacea

Phaeocollybia olivacea is unusual to uncommon in California (the suspected center of distribution) and Oregon and rare in Washington, with 75 extant occurrences, of which 31 lie in currently protected forest reserves. It is endemic to the northern spotted owl region in the Pacific Northwest from (possibly) Washington to California. Its patchy distribution precludes estimation of population size and area of occupancy. It is usually in mixed fagaceous and pinaceous forests, occasionally in pure coniferous stands. The current known populations are relatively stable, but the advent of the ""sudden oak death"" Phytophthora imperils those in mixed forests. Unprotected occurrences are possibly imperiled also by road construction & development and clearcutting or heavy thinning. Moderate to light thinning is not considered a threat. All occurrences are imperiled by hot fires.

Endemic to the northern spotted owl region in western North America, Phaeocollybia olivacea ranges from the Olympic Peninsula in Washington, south along the Pacific coast to Santa Cruz County in California and east to the eastern Willamette Valley fringe and south to Roseberg and south along the coast range to Castle Crags SP in California. The sole Washington outlier is taxonomically questionable. (Norvell 1998ac, ISMS 2002 database and GIS map for PHOL).

There are ~94 total known occurrences, of which at least 75 are believed extant (Norvell 1998ac, 2002; ISMS 2002 database & GIS map for PHOL). Much of the habitat surrounding occurrences sampled during the 1950's has been eradicated.

Whatever threatens the extant forest will threaten the fungus. This species is usually found in complex mixed oak-coniferous forests. Populations are inferred to be long-lived from the fact that collections have been made in or near the type locality from 1956 to 2000 (Norvell 1998ac, ISMS 2002). Like the forest, Phaeocollybia olivacea is threatened by hot fires, road construction or other development, and clearcutting, but appears to be able to withstand light to moderate thinning (Norvell pers comm 2002). The most serious long-term threat is the predicted rapid spread of the ""sudden oak death"" Phytophthora to the oak partner trees.