Imperial Mushroom
VU

Imperial Mushroom

Catathelasma imperiale

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catathelasma_imperiale

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Imperial Mushroom faces significant pressure from commercial harvesting for culinary markets, where its prized edible qualities make it a target for over-collection. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific temperature and moisture conditions required for fruiting body formation in its montane forest habitats. Habitat fragmentation from logging and development activities further reduces available suitable sites for this slow-growing species.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Imperial Mushroom occurs in mature coniferous forests, particularly in montane regions with well-developed soil layers and specific mycorrhizal associations. It typically fruits in late summer to early fall in undisturbed forest ecosystems with stable moisture and temperature regimes.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Frequently asked questions

Why is Imperial Mushroom classified as Vulnerable?
Imperial Mushroom is classified as Vulnerable because the population is declining and the species faces a high risk of extinction in the medium-term future if current pressures continue. The Imperial Mushroom faces significant pressure from commercial harvesting for culinary markets, where its prized edible qualities make it a target for over-collection. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the specific temperature and moisture conditions required for fruiting body formation in its montane forest habitats. Habitat fragmentation from logging and development activities further reduces available suitable sites for this slow-growing species.
Where does Imperial Mushroom live?
Imperial Mushroom occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Imperial Mushroom?
The main threats to Imperial Mushroom are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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