Medusa Brittlestem
EN

Medusa Brittlestem

Psathyrella caput-medusae

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psathyrella_caput-medusae

Overview

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

The Medusa Brittlestem faces severe threats from habitat destruction as its specialized woodland environments are cleared for agriculture and urban development. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the moisture and temperature conditions essential for this fungus's fruiting and spore dispersal. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes and human disturbance.

Threat summary

Habitat

This rare fungus inhabits mature deciduous and mixed woodlands, typically growing on decaying wood and leaf litter in humid, shaded environments. It requires specific microclimate conditions with consistent moisture levels and stable temperatures found in undisturbed forest ecosystems.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Psathyrellaceae

Spotted BrittlestemVU

Spotted Brittlestem

Psathyrella maculata

Unknown
VU

Psathyrella pertinax

Unknown
EN

Reichbeschleierter Faserling

Psathyrella spintrigeroides

Unknown
EN

Psathyrella sphagnicola

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Medusa Brittlestem classified as Endangered?
Medusa Brittlestem is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. The Medusa Brittlestem faces severe threats from habitat destruction as its specialized woodland environments are cleared for agriculture and urban development. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the moisture and temperature conditions essential for this fungus's fruiting and spore dispersal. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to local environmental changes and human disturbance.
Where does Medusa Brittlestem live?
Medusa Brittlestem 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 Medusa Brittlestem?
The main threats to Medusa Brittlestem 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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