Genus: Geastrum

Geastrum — genus of fungi of family Geastraceae.

Etymology

Geastrum n, Geastrum, Earthstar. From γη (gē) f, earth + αστήρ (astēr) m, star.

Type species

Geastrum pectinatum Pers., Syn. meth. fung. (Göttingen) 1: 132 (1801)

Description

Fruit body grayish-brownish, initially spherical. Exoperidium thick, leathery, upon maturation of fruit body star-shaped, tearing into 4 — 12 (sometimes up to 15) more or less pointed lobes, curling downward or spread horizontally along soil.

Gleba covered with endoperidium, spherical, opening at apex with single aperture, sessile or with stem, above which well noticeable rounded projection — apophysis — may form. Aperture with beak (peristome) or without it. Slightly depressed area, sharply delimited from rest of endoperidium — areola — may adjoin peristome.

Gleba in mature state powdery, consisting of spores and capillitium. Endoperidium thin, membranous or paper-like, smooth or slightly hairy.

Grow on soil.