Pepper Pot
Myriostoma coliforme
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
46
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myriostoma_coliforme
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Fungi
Phylum
Basidiomycota
Class
Agaricomycetes
Order
Geastrales
Family
Geastraceae
Genus
Myriostoma
Pepper Pot belongs to the family Geastraceae, order Geastrales, within the Agaricomycetes class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Myriostoma coliforme faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion, urbanization, and forest fragmentation across its range. Climate change is altering soil conditions and moisture regimes essential for this fungus's reproductive cycle, while pollution and intensive land use practices degrade the specific microhabitat conditions required for fruiting body development.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Sandy soils in open grasslands, heathlands, and sparse woodlands, particularly in areas with well-drained, nutrient-poor substrates. This species typically occurs in semi-arid to temperate regions where it forms fruiting bodies in sandy or gravelly soils with specific moisture and pH requirements.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
Myriostoma coliforme faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion, urbanization, and forest fragmentation across its range. Climate change is altering soil conditions and moisture regimes essential for this fungus's reproductive cycle, while pollution and intensive land use practices degrade the specific microhabitat conditions required for fruiting body development.
Agricultural intensification
Climate change impacts on soil conditions
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Pollution and chemical contamination
Urbanization and development
Found in 46 Countries
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). Pepper Pot (Myriostoma coliforme). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/pepper-pot