vs Willow Shield

Pluteus exiguus compared with Pluteus salicinus

Key Differences

• is Vulnerable while Willow Shield is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Willow Shield
Kingdom same	Fungi (Fungi)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum same	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class same	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order same	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)	Agaricales (Gilled Mushrooms)
Family same	Pluteaceae	Pluteaceae
Genus same	Pluteus	Pluteus
Species	Pluteus exiguus	Pluteus salicinus

Evolutionary Relationship

and Willow Shield share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Pluteus.

Conservation Status

VU — Vulnerable

Willow Shield

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Willow Shield
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Taiwan. Currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Willow Shield

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Pluteus exiguus is a small, pale-capped mushroom in the genus Pluteus, producing pink-tinged gills and spores at maturity. It grows on decaying hardwood logs and stumps in temperate European forests. This saprotrophic fungus decomposes dead wood and obtains nutrients through enzymatic breakdown of lignified plant tissue.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden