Quartz Webcap
VU

Quartz Webcap

Cortinarius quarciticus

Unknown

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

Overview

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

The Quartz Webcap faces severe pressure from habitat degradation in its specialized montane forest ecosystems, where logging and infrastructure development fragment the mycorrhizal networks essential for its survival. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the temperature and moisture regimes of high-elevation forests, potentially disrupting the delicate symbiotic relationships this fungus maintains with specific tree species. The species' limited dispersal ability and narrow ecological requirements make population recovery extremely difficult once local extinctions occur.

Threat summary

Habitat

The Quartz Webcap inhabits mature montane coniferous forests, typically forming mycorrhizal associations with specific tree species in well-drained, mineral-rich soils at elevations between 800-1500 meters. This fungus requires stable forest conditions with consistent moisture levels and minimal soil disturbance to maintain its complex underground hyphal networks.

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Cortinariaceae

EN

Cortinarius sordescentipes

Unknown
Scaly WebcapVU

Scaly Webcap

Cortinarius pholideus

Unknown
Goatcheese WebcapVU

Goatcheese Webcap

Cortinarius camphoratus

Unknown
VU

Mealy Bigfoot Webcap

Cortinarius caerulescens

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Quartz Webcap classified as Vulnerable?
Quartz Webcap 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 Quartz Webcap faces severe pressure from habitat degradation in its specialized montane forest ecosystems, where logging and infrastructure development fragment the mycorrhizal networks essential for its survival. Climate change poses an additional threat by altering the temperature and moisture regimes of high-elevation forests, potentially disrupting the delicate symbiotic relationships this fungus maintains with specific tree species. The species' limited dispersal ability and narrow ecological requirements make population recovery extremely difficult once local extinctions occur.
Where does Quartz Webcap live?
Quartz Webcap 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 Quartz Webcap?
The main threats to Quartz Webcap 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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