''Geastrum subiculosum'' is an inedible 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 organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from th ...

belonging to the genus '' Geastrum'', or earthstar fungi. The fungus was first described scientifically by

Cooke Cooke is a surname derived from the occupation of cook. Notable people with the surname include: * Alexander Cooke (died 1614), English actor * Alfred Tyrone Cooke, of the Indo-Pakistani wars * Alistair Cooke KBE (1908–2004), British-American j ...

and

Massee Massee is the surname of the following people: *George Edward Massee (1845–1917), English mycologist, plant pathologist, and botanist *J. C. Massee (1871–1965), American Christian fundamentalist *May Massee (1881–1966), American children's b ...

in 1887 (as ''Geaster subiculosus''; ''Geaster'' is an older name for the genus '' Geastrum''), based on material found near Trinity Bay, Australia. The fungus grows on decaying wood, and the

fruit bodies The sporocarp (also known as fruiting body, fruit body or fruitbody) of fungi is a multicellular structure on which spore-producing structures, such as basidia or asci, are borne. The fruitbody is part of the sexual phase of a fungal life cyc ...

are characterized by an extensive velvet-like subiculum (a crust-like growth of

mycelium Mycelium (plural mycelia) is a root-like structure of a fungus consisting of a mass of branching, thread-like hyphae. Fungal colonies composed of mycelium are found in and on soil and many other substrate (biology), substrates. A typical single ...

). The

spore In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, f ...

s are roughly spherical and measure 3.6–4.2

μm The micrometre ( international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures; SI symbol: μm) or micrometer (American spelling), also commonly known as a micron, is a unit of length in the International System of Unit ...

. The species is found in Australia, Africa (South Africa and the

Congo Congo or The Congo may refer to either of two countries that border the Congo River in central Africa: * Democratic Republic of the Congo, the larger country to the southeast, capital Kinshasa, formerly known as Zaire, sometimes referred to a ...

), North America, and South America.

References

External links

* Fungi described in 1887 Fungi of Australia Fungi of Africa Fungi of North America Fungi of South America subiculosum Inedible fungi Taxa named by Mordecai Cubitt Cooke {{Geastrales-stub