Cinnabar Powdercap
Cystodermella cinnabarina
Cystodermella cinnabarina is a basidiomycete fungus of the genus Cystodermella. Its fruiting body is a small agaric bearing a distinctive reddish-coloured grainy cap.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cystodermella_cinnabarina
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Agaricales
Family
Agaricaceae
Genus
Cystodermella
Cinnabar Powdercap belongs to the family Agaricaceae, order Agaricales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
Cystodermella cinnabarina is a basidiomycete fungus of the genus Cystodermella. Its fruiting body is a small agaric bearing a distinctive reddish-coloured grainy cap. It occurs in coniferous and deciduous forests throughout the world. Prior to 2002, this species belonged to genus Cystoderma, subsection Cinnabarina, under the name Cystoderma cinnabarinum which is still sometimes applied. Another often used synonym is Cystoderma terreyi.
The Cinnabar Powdercap faces significant threats from habitat loss due to deforestation and forest fragmentation, which reduces the availability of suitable decaying wood substrates essential for its survival. Climate change poses additional risks by altering forest moisture regimes and temperature patterns that this species depends on for reproduction and growth.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This species inhabits temperate and boreal coniferous and mixed forests, typically growing on decaying wood, fallen logs, and woody debris in moist forest understories. It shows preference for older forest stands with abundant coarse woody material and stable moisture conditions.
Threats
Climate change impacts on forest ecosystems
Habitat loss and forest fragmentation
Air pollution affecting forest health
Loss of dead wood substrates from forest management practices
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Cinnabar Powdercap (Cystodermella cinnabarina). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/cinnabar-powdercap