Rounded Earthstar Mushroom

Description:

The immature fruiting body of this mushroom is 0.6 to 2.5 centimetres (0.24 to 0.98 in) in diameter and 0.8 to 1.5 centimetres (0.31 to 0.59 in) tall. Initially, the fruiting body is egg-shaped – similar in appearance to puffballs – and has strands of mycelia (rhizomorphs) at the base that attach it to the growing surface. The 'skin', or peridium, is composed of two separate layers: the outer layer (exoperidium), which is a golden tan to yellowish brown color, separates away from the inner basidiocarp, and splits in to several rays that curve backward (recurve) to the base. The mushroom is 2 to 5 centimetres (0.79 to 2.0 in) in diameter after the rays have expanded.

Habitat:

Rounded Earthstar is found in North America and Europe. It is saprobic, and grows scattered or clustered together in leaf litter of humus, usually in late summer and fall. This one was photographed in Edgefield County, SC.

Notes:

A β-glucan–protein complex extracted from G. saccatum was isolated and analysed and shown to have antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities. It is suggested that the mechanism for the antiinflammatory activity is due to inhibition of the enzymes nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase.