Sessile Earthstar - Geastrum fimbriatum

Description

These are creamy beige puff-ball mushrooms of which the outer tunic splits into a star-like pattern exposing the sac of spores. They are usually less than 5 cm across.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Under deciduous trees.

When to see it

Autumn

Life History

Once the sac of spores is exposed dispersal depends on raindrops hitting the sack which causes puffs of spore to shoot out

UK Status

Occasional in England scarcer elsewhere in Britain.

VC55 Status

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Sessile Earthstar
Species group:
Fungi
Kingdom:
Fungi
Order:
Geastrales
Family:
Geastraceae
Records on NatureSpot:
5
First record:
13/01/2009 (Gavin Fletcher)
Last record:
05/02/2020 (Heaton, Andrew)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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