Geastrum
Geastrum is a genus of puffball-like mushrooms in the family Geastraceae. Many species are commonly known as earthstars.
The name, which comes from geo meaning earth and aster 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. This is where basidia and basidiospores 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.
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 estimated roughly 50 species in Geastrum, a more recent estimate 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 can be identified using chemical spot tests that detect phenoloxidase enzymatic activity, adifferences in the crystal structure of calcium oxalate deposits or DNA sequences. Species include:Geastrum aculeatumGeastrum albonigrumGeastrum andrewsiiGeastrum argentatumGeastrum argentinumGeastrum australeGeastrum austrominimumGeastrum benitoiGeastrum britannicumGeastrum berkeleyiGeastrum bushnelliiGeastrum campestreGeastrum clelandiiGeastrum congolenseGeastrum corollinumGeastrum coronatumGeastrum dissimileGeastrum drummondiiGeastrum dubowskiiGeastrum echinulatumGeastrum elegansGeastrum ellipticeGeastrum entomophilumGeastrum episcopaleGeastrum fimbriatumGeastrum flexuosumGeastrum floriformeGeastrum fornicatumGeastrum fuscoglebaGeastrum hieronymiGeastrum hirsutumGeastrum huneckiiGeastrum hungaricumGeastrum inpaense – BrazilGeastrum jureiGeastrum kotlabaeGeastrum kuhariiGeastrum lageniformeGeastrum leptospermumGeastrum lilloiGeastrum litchiformeGeastrum lloydianumGeastrum magnosporumGeastrum melanocephalumGeastrum meridionaleGeastrum minimumGeastrum mirabileGeastrum morganiiGeastrum ovalisporumGeastrum oxylobumGeastrum papinuttiiGeastrum parvisporumGeastrum parvistriatumGeastrum pectinatumGeastrum pleosporusGeastrum pouzariiGeastrum pseudolimbatumGeastrum quadrifidumGeastrum reticulatumGeastrum rhizophorumGeastrum rufescensGeastrum rugulosumGeastrum rusticum – BrazilGeastrum saccatumGeastrum schmideliiGeastrum schweinitziiGeastrum senoretiaeGeastrum setiferumGeastrum smardaeGeastrum smithiiGeastrum stiptatumGeastrum striatumGeastrum subiculosumGeastrum tichiferGeastrum triplexGeastrum velutinumGeastrum verrucoramulosumGeastrum welwitschiiGeastrum xerophilum