What does the 'Apply establishment means to descendent places' button (in check lists) actually do?

[cthawley]

I searched on the forum and found some relevant threads:
https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/remove-ability-to-apply-status-to-descendant-places/6137
https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/species-listed-as-introduced-when-they-are-not/5968
https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/unintended-cascading-of-establishment-means/7299

This probably explains the situation most pithily:

@jdmore

My understanding is that Introduced gets applied to descendant places with Unknown status without using that special tool – just automatically when the parent place gets changed to Introduced by anyone. And when the special curator tool is used, it will then change everything, not just the unknowns.