Geastrum saccatum Fr.
rounded earthstar
Geastraceae
Species account author: Ian Gibson.
Extracted from Matchmaker: Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest.
Introduction to the Macrofungi
rounded earthstar
Geastraceae
Species account author: Ian Gibson.
Extracted from Matchmaker: Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest.
Introduction to the Macrofungi
Species Information
Summary:
{See also Earthstars Table.} Features include 1) a fruitbody up to 5cm across when the outer covering of the fruitbody has expanded into rays, 2) 4-8 star-like non-hygroscopic rays, which bend back under the spore case, the rays relatively clean, 3) stemless spore case in a bowl-like depression in the center but without a collar or saucer, 4) apical pore at the top of the spore case, often delimited by a circular, raised to depressed line, the pore area often paler or more brownish than the rest of the spore case, 5) spore mass that is white at first but soon brown to purplish brown and powdery, and 6) round, warty spores.
Odor:
none (Miller)
Microscopic:
spores 3.5-5 x 3.5-5 microns, round, warty, (Arora), spores 3.5-4.5 microns in diameter, (many poorly formed spores in mounts measuring 2.5-3.5 microns), round, verrucose with truncate warts; capillitial hyphae 4-8 microns wide, pale yellowish to brownish, very thick-walled "with much debris incrusting them", often quite crooked, (Smith(49))
Notes:
It is found at least in WA (Ramsey), OR (Zeller(2)), CA (Arora), AB (Schalkwijk-Barendsen), and is one of the more common earthstars in the Pacific Northwest (Ammirati), known throughout the United States, and reported also from AZ, FL, KS, MD, MI, MO, NC, NE, and OH, and also Africa, Australia, Canada, the Caribbean, and Europe, (Bates). The University of British Columbia has collections from BC identified as this species (as well as one from CO), and it appears quite commonly on BC foray lists. The University of Washington has collections from WA, MT, and VA.
EDIBILITY
inedible "in the mature state in which it is usually found", (Arora)
Habitat and Range
SIMILAR SPECIES
Geastrum fimbriatum Fr. is a widely distributed species that is nearly identical to this species but with smaller round spores that measure 3-3.5 microns (instead of 3.5-5 microns) and an apical pore that is fimbriate and not delimited by a distinct circular paler zone (Bessette(2)). Geastrum triplex also has non-hygroscopic rays and a stemless spore case with a well-defined apical pore, but the spore case sits in a broken-edged saucer on top of the curved back rays.Habitat
in leaf litter, rich humus, around old stumps, summer and fall, (Ammirati), single, scattered, or in groups in humus under trees, especially conifers, in woods or occasionally in the open, (Arora), July to October (Lincoff), grouped around decaying stumps in hardwood forests or under junipers, late summer, (McKnight)
Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Peniophora angusta D.P. Rogers & Weresub