Formally listed as a species of Sarcodon, this species is now classified as Hydnellum (Larsson et al. 2019).

Hydnellum scabrosum is an ectomycorrhizal fungus with a wide distribution in the northern hemisphere, in particular in the boreal biome. It forms ectomycorrhiza with pine in mainly older forests on mostly dry and acidic soil. It is easily identified as it forms conspicuous and large sporocarps. It is used as an indictor species for forest of conservation interest and has been much searched after. Being a ectomycorrhizal fungus, the main threat to the species is clear-cutting as its mycelia withers and dies in the absence of living trees.

The global population is considered to have declined, and such declines are continuing as appropriate habitat is lost due to nitrogen fertilisation and felling of dry natural and seminatural old pine forests with long tree continuity. Declines in the area and quality of available habitat is estimated to be in the range of 20-25% over the last 50 years (three generations); the decline in population size over this time could be higher. This decline in habitat is expected to continue over the next 50 years. Therefore, this species is assessed as Near Threatened under criteria A2ce+3ce+4ce.

Hydnellum scabrosum is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere, mainly in the boreal biome but also in the temperate biome (Bendiksen and Brandrud 2014, GBIF 2024). Note that reports from the temperate zone may refer to other similar Hydnellum taxa as H. scabrosum sensu stricto only associates with Pinaceae trees (Nitare et al. 2021).

Hydnellum scabrosum is a widely spread species. It has most of its occurrences located in the the north and are only rarely reported from continental Europe. It is widespread in Canada and also stated as rather common in appropriate habitats in the USA and Russia. It is particularly well-known in the Nordic countries as it has been used as an indicator species for dry pine forests of conservation interest and therefore paid much attention to (Nitare 2006, 2023). About 85% of the 13,000+ records of H. scabrosum in GBIF (2024) are from these countries. The total number of localities in Norway, Sweden and Finland are estimated to be c. 5,000 (Hyvärinen et al. 2019, SLU Artdatabanken 2020, Artsdatabanken 2021). Each locality may have a few genotypes of H. scabrosum corresponding to 20-50 mature individuals (see Dahlberg and Mueller 2011). Hence, the total global population is estimated to be substantially large.

The decline of the major habitat of the species, dry natural and seminatural dry older pine forests in Europe in the evaluation period of 50 years (three generations) is estimated to be in the magnitude of 30-49% and projected to continue at that rate (Bendiksen and Brandrud 2014, SLU Artdatabanken 2020, Artsdatabanken 2021). Considering that the species to some extent appears to survive and/or re-establish in forest generated by clear-cutting and that the status appears more favourable in North America, the total population is estimated to have declined at a rate approaching 30% during the last 50 years.

Hydnellum scabrosum is a large and characteristic ectomycorrhizal fungus associating with Pinaceae trees in dry, nutrient-poor (acid) shallow soil, oligotrophic lichen dominated pine forests and in sandy pine forests (Bendiksen and Brandrud 2014, Nitare et al. 2021). It occurs mainly in forests with remnants of natural forest elements and seminatural pine forests that have been selectively cut. It does sometimes also occur in younger pine forests resulting from clear-felling, due to either surviving mycelia on left retention trees or seedlings, or from mycelia established from wind-dispersed spores originating from nearby forests. It is unclear, as for ectomycorrhizal fungi in general, if its spores may form a sporebank in the soil. H. scabrosum sensu stricto has been found to be an ectomycorrhizal partner of Pinaceae only (Nitare et al. 2021). It has been verified to form mycorrhiza by DNA-sequences in the roots of Pinus sylvestris, Pinus densiflora, Pseudotsuga menziesii and also to form mycorrhizal associations with epiparasitic monotropoid plant roots (Nitare et al. 2021).

It is primarily threatened by clear-cutting of old-growth pine forests, nitrogen fertilisation of forests and measures to prevent forest fires (Brandrud and Bendiksen 2014, SLU Artdatabanken 2020, Artsdatabanken 2021).

The species is not known to be used.

Hydnellum scabrosum is nationally Red List assessed in a few countries (Denmark CR, Moeslund et al. 2023; Norway NT, Artsdatabanken 2021; Sweden NT, SLU Artdatabanken 2020; and Finland LC, Hyvärinen et al. 2019). It has not been nationally assessed in continental Europe, despite only relatively few records. In North America, it is classified as having a Secure status in Canada (Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council 2022).

Protection of known sites will be important. It may also survive well in areas with forestry using carful selective cutting methods. Research is desired to gain a better understanding of its ecology, in particular its population biology. Basic knowledge of if, and to what extent, it may survive and re-establish in areas subjected to forest management would facilitate a better management of H. scabrosum.