''Geastrum'' (
orthographical variant In biology, within the science of scientific nomenclature, i.e. the naming of organisms, an orthographical variant (abbreviated orth. var.) in botany or an orthographic error in zoology, is a spelling mistake, typing mistake or writing mistake with ...
''Geaster'')
is a
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
of puffball-like
mushroom
A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one poisonous to humans.
The standard for the name "mushroom" is t ...
s in the family
Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers to the behavior of the outer peridium. At maturity, the outer layer of the fruiting body splits into segments which turn outward creating a star-like pattern on the ground. The inner peridium is called a spore sac. In some species, the outer peridium splits from a middle layer, causing the spore sac to arch off the ground. If the outer peridium opens when wet and closes when dry, it is described as hygroscopic.
In some species, the inner peridium is borne on a stalk or pedicel. The columella is a column-like clump of sterile tissue found inside the inner peridium. The network of fertile tissue inside the inner peridium, the
capillitium, arises from the columella And is where
basidia and
basidiospores
A basidiospore is a reproductive spore produced by Basidiomycete fungi, a grouping that includes mushrooms, shelf fungi, rusts, and smuts. Basidiospores typically each contain one haploid nucleus that is the product of meiosis, and they are pro ...
are produced. The mouth in most species of "earth-stars" is quite prominent, often arising as a small cone at the apex of the inner peridium. It may be even or sulcate (grooved).
They are generally not toxic but considered non-edible due to their fibrous texture in the mature stage at which they are generally found.
Species
Although the ''Dictionary of the Fungi'' (2008) estimated roughly 50 species in ''Geastrum'',
a more recent estimate (2014) suggests that there may be up to 120 species.
''Geastrum coronatum'' Pers. has been proposed as the conserved type for the genus.
Some similar species that are otherwise difficult to differentiate using classical
morphological features (such as ''G. triplex'', ''G. saccatum'', and ''G. lageniforme'') can be identified using
chemical spot tests that detect
phenoloxidase
Polyphenol oxidase (PPO; also polyphenol oxidase i, chloroplastic), an enzyme involved in fruit browning, is a tetramer that contains four atoms of copper per molecule.
PPO may accept monophenols and/or ''o''-diphenols as substrates. The ...
enzymatic activity, a
differences in the crystal structure of
calcium oxalate
Calcium oxalate (in archaic terminology, oxalate of lime) is a calcium salt of oxalic acid with the chemical formula . It forms hydrates , where ''n'' varies from 1 to 3. Anhydrous and all hydrated forms are colorless or white. The monohydrate ...
deposits
or DNA sequences. Species include:
* ''
Geastrum aculeatum''
* ''
Geastrum albonigrum
''Geastrum albonigrum'' is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus '' Geastrum'', or earthstar genus. It is found in Costa Rica and Mexico. ''G. albonigrum'' can be distinguished from superficially similar species '' G. coronatum'' ...
''
* ''
Geastrum andrewsii
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum argentatum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum argentinum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum australe
''Geastrum australe'' is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus ''Geastrum'', or earthstar fungi. It can be mistaken for ''Geastrum saccatum
''Geastrum saccatum'', commonly known as the rounded earthstar, is a species of mushr ...
''
* ''
Geastrum austrominimum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum benitoi
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum britannicum
''Geastrum britannicum'' is a fungal species in the family Geastraceae. Its recommended English name is vaulted earthstar. Like other earthstars, the basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are initially globose. Their thick outer skin splits open at maturit ...
''
* ''
Geastrum berkeleyi
''Geastrum berkeleyi'', or Berkeley's earthstar, is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus ''Geastrum'', or earthstar fungi. Despite being a very uncommon mushroom, it has a wide geographical distribution, having been documented in ...
''
* ''
Geastrum bushnellii
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum campestre
''Geastrum campestre'' is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus ''Geastrum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as ea ...
''
* ''
Geastrum clelandii
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum congolense
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum corollinum
''Geastrum corollinum'' is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus ''Geastrum'', or earthstar fungi. First described scientifically by German naturalist August Johann Georg Karl Batsch in 1792 as ''Lycoperdon corollinum'', it was t ...
''
* ''
Geastrum coronatum
''Geastrum coronatum'' is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus ''Geastrum'', or earthstar fungi. Christian Hendrik Persoon published the first description
Description is the pattern of narrative development that aims to make ...
''
* ''
Geastrum dissimile
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum drummondii
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum dubowskii
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum echinulatum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum elegans
''Geastrum elegans'' is an inedible species of mushroom
A mushroom or toadstool is the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting body of a fungus, typically produced above ground, on soil, or on its food source. ''Toadstool'' generally denotes one pois ...
''
* ''
Geastrum elliptice
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum entomophilum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum episcopale
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum fimbriatum
''Geastrum fimbriatum'', commonly known as the fringed earthstar or the sessile earthstar, is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus ''Geastrum'', or earthstar fungi. First described in 1829, the species has a widespread distributi ...
''
* ''
Geastrum flexuosum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum floriforme
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum fornicatum
''Geastrum fornicatum'', common name known as the acrobatic earthstar or the arched earthstar, is an inedible species of mushroom in the family ''Geastraceae''. Like other earthstar mushrooms, the thick outer skin splits open at maturity to expos ...
''
* ''
Geastrum fuscogleba
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum hieronymi
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum hirsutum''
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Geastrum huneckii''
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Geastrum hungaricum''
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Geastrum inpaense
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
'' – Brazil
* ''
Geastrum kotlabae
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum kuharii
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum lageniforme
''Geastrum lageniforme '' is a species of fungus
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organ ...
''
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Geastrum leptospermum
''Geastrum leptospermum'' is a species of fungus in the family Geastraceae. It was first described scientifically by American mycologist George F. Atkinson in 1903. The fungus produces small fruit bodies and grows in mosses on tree trunks.
De ...
''
* ''
Geastrum lilloi
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum litchiforme
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum lloydianum
''Geastrum lloydianum'' is a species of fungus belonging to the genus ''Geastrum'', or earthstar fungi. Described as new to science in 1906 by Johannes Rick
Johannes (João Evangelista) Rick (19 January 1869 – 1946) was an Austrian-born Brazi ...
''
* ''
Geastrum magnosporum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum melanocephalum
''Geastrum melanocephalum'' is a species of fungus
A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These org ...
''
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Geastrum meridionale
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum minimum
''Geastrum minimum '' or tiny earthstar is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus ''Geastrum''. Although rare, it is widespread in Europe, where it occurs in a range of habitats. It is a priority species in the UK, where it has be ...
''
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Geastrum mirabile''
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Geastrum morganii
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum ovalisporum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum oxylobum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum papinuttii
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum parvisporum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum parvistriatum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum pectinatum
''Geastrum pectinatum'' is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the Geastraceae, earthstar family of fungi. Although young specimens are spherical, basidiocarp, fruit body development involves the outer layer of tissue splitting open l ...
''
* ''
Geastrum pleosporus
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum pouzarii
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum pseudolimbatum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum quadrifidum
''Geastrum quadrifidum'', commonly known as the rayed earthstar or four-footed earthstar, is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus ''Geastrum'', or earthstar fungi. First described scientifically by Christian Hendrik Persoon i ...
''
* ''
Geastrum reticulatum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum rhizophorum''
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Geastrum rufescens
''Geastrum rufescens'', commonly known as the rosy earthstar, is a species of fungus in the family Geastraceae. It was first described scientifically by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1801. It has a pale pinkish-buff to pinkish exoperidium and ray ...
''
* ''
Geastrum rugulosum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum rusticum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
'' – Brazil
* ''
Geastrum saccatum''
* ''
Geastrum schmidelii
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
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Geastrum schweinitzii
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum senoretiae
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum setiferum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum smardae
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum smithii
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum stiptatum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum striatum''
* ''
Geastrum subiculosum
''Geastrum subiculosum'' is an inedible species of fungus belonging to the genus '' Geastrum'', or earthstar fungi. The fungus was first described scientifically by Cooke and Massee in 1887 (as ''Geaster subiculosus''; ''Geaster'' is an older nam ...
''
* ''
Geastrum tichifer
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum triplex''
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Geastrum velutinum
''Geastrum velutinum'' is a species of fungus in the family Geastraceae. Found in North America, it was first species description, described scientifically by Andrew Price Morgan in 1895.
References
External links
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Geastrum, velutinum ...
''
* ''
Geastrum verrucoramulosum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum welwitschii
''Geastrum welwitschii'' is a species of fungus in the earthstar family. When young and unopened, the fruit bodies resemble small spheres lying in the soil. As the mushroom matures, the thick leathery outer layer of tissue (the peridium) spli ...
''
* ''
Geastrum xerophilum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
* ''
Geastrum xylogenum
''Geastrum'' (orthographical variant ''Geaster'') is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.
The name, which comes from ''geo'' meaning ''earth'' and meaning ''star'', refers ...
''
References
Sources
New Zealand SpeciesBritish SpeciesCzech Species and Photos*
*
Ponce de Leon, Patricio, A Revision of the Family Geastraceae, Field Museum of Natural History 1968*
*
{{Taxonbar, from=Q687050
Agaricomycetes genera