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Collared earthstar

geastrum triplex

Description:

This large earthstar features very thick arms that often develop cracks and fissures as they bend, eventually splitting so that the spore case appears to be sitting on a saucer that is held up by the curled arms. However, Geastrum triplex doesn't always form a saucer, and other distinguishing features must then be matched for accurate identification: the large size; the pronounced "beak" on young specimens; the fuzzy opening in the spore case (which is usually surrounded by a paler area); and the fact that the mushroom is attached to the substrate only at the base. Description: Ecology: Saprobic; growing alone or gregariously under hardwoods; summer and fall (over winter in warmer climates); widely distributed in North America. Fruiting Body: At first a smooth, egg-shaped ball with a prominent pointed beak, 1-5 cm wide, attached to the substrate by a point at the base; with maturity the outer skin peeling back to form 4-8 more or less triangular, buff colored, non-hygroscopic arms that are thick and usually develop fissures and cracks, frequently splitting to form a saucer; spore case more or less round, smooth, brownish, with a fuzzy conical beak that is often surrounded by a pale area; 5-10 cm across when arms are opened; interior of spore case initially solid and white but soon powdery and brown. Microscopic Features: Spores 3.5-4.5 µ; round; spiny; brownish to cinnamon in KOH. Capillitial threads 3-6 µ wide; yellowish in KOH; incrusted ( http://www.mushroomexpert.com/geastrum_t... )

Habitat:

location: North America, Europe edibility: Inedible fungus colour: White to cream normal size: 5-15cm cap type: Other stem type: Lateral, rudimentary or absent spore colour: Light to dark brown habitat: Grows in woods, Grows on the ground Geastrum triplex Jung. Kragen-Erdstern, Géastre à trois couches, Collard Earthstar. Fruit body 3–5cm across when unopened and bulb-shaped, opening to 5–10cm across, outer wall splitting into 4–8 pointed rays and covered in a thick, pinkish-brown, fleshy layer which cracks as the rays bend back under the fruit body leaving the spore sac sitting in a saucer-like base. Spore sac sessile, pale grey-brown with a paler ring round the slightly raised mouth. Spores dark brown, globose, warted, 3.5–4.5um in diameter. Habitat amongst leaf litter in deciduous woods. Season late summer to autumn. Occasional, perhaps the most common member of the genus in Europe. Not edible. Distribution, America and Europe. ( http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/D... )

Notes:

Bioactive compounds The fruit bodies of Geastrum triplex Jungh contain the sterols ergosta-4,6,8,(14),22-tetraen-3-one,5,6-dihydroergosterol, ergosterol, peroxyergosterol, as well as myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids (Torpoco and Garbarino, 1998). ( http://healing-mushrooms.net/archives/ge... ) ----- (wikipedia): ----------In traditional medicine Earthstars were used medicinally by Native American Indians. The Blackfoot called them ka-ka-toos, meaning "fallen stars", and according to legend, they were an indication of supernatural events. The Cherokee put fruit bodies on the navels of babies after childbirth until the withered umbilical cord fell off, "both as a prophylactic and a therapeutic measure". In traditional Chinese medicine, G. triplex is used to reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract, and to staunch bleeding and reduce swelling. -------Chemistry The fruit bodies of Geastrum triplex have been chemically analyzed and shown to contain a number of bioactive compounds, including fungal sterols such as ergosta-4,6,8,(14),22-tetraen-3-one,5,6-dihydroergosterol, ergosterol, and peroxyergosterol. The fungus also contains various fatty acids, notably myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, alpha-linolenic, and linoeic acid.

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1 Comment

MayraSpringmann
MayraSpringmann 11 years ago

Wow!!! Fantastic!!!

AlexKonig
Spotted by
AlexKonig

Heerlen, Limburg, Netherlands

Spotted on Oct 14, 2011
Submitted on Feb 4, 2012

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