Never mind, MO experts always know what it is and what it is not. I saw the same situation in the taxonomy of Isoetes echinospora complex: When it grows in Asia, it is I. asiatica, when it grows in NA, it is I. braunii, and when it grows in Europe, it is Isoetes tenella. Never mind that this particular_Paxillus_ grows in a close vicinity of Amanita phalloides (DAVFP: 25412, DAVFP: 25413, DAVFP: 25414, & DAVFP: 25415).

would be changing MO observation names in observations posted by somebody else. In the professional mycology, such changes should be suggested as ANNOTATIONS. In Mushroom Observer you should use MO Comments for presenting your ideas.

It’s a path to fixing it.

I’ve exposed my own ignorance many places, but this observation isn’t one of them. I asked whether you had evidence this was the European species, and it turns out you do have some (that these were found with native European birch, which hadn’t been stated here).

That other European mushroom species have been found there isn’t evidence, unless it’s accompanied by an absence of NA species. I’m glad you exposed your ignorance regarding evidence here, so we can all do better in the future.

I’ve gotten the impression that P. involutus s.s. is uncommon in the PNW (typically replaced by P. cuprinus), but I can’t find a good source for that right now. Note that that doesn’t change the validity of the request for evidence, or the “P. involutus group” name confidence.

Thanks for playing!

Any evidence that this is NOT the European species.
Circumstantial evidence: Native birches are rare on southern Vancouver Island, and those that grow there are practically only in peat bogs. This collection is from the park where we also have European Amanita phalloides, Leccinum scaber, Lactarius glyciosmus, Lactarius necator, etc.
Please, stay away from changing our names, don’t expose your ignorance.