Sessile Earthstar

Description:

Initially looking like a round stone lying partly buried in the soil, the outer skin splits into rays that fold back neatly beneath the inner spore sac, raising it up from the ground. Sessile Earthstars fruit in small groups and occasionally in fairy rings, usually on alkaline soil; they seem to have no particular preference for either hardwood trees or conifers

Habitat:

-------Identification Guide ------------- -----Description:5 to 9 creamy-white outer rays recurved beneath the unstalked papery grey spore sac, which is finely downy; the apical pore is fibrous. ------Dimensions :Outer dia. 2.5 to 5cm; spore sac 1 to 2.2cm across. ------Spores :Chocolate-brown. -----Odour/taste :Not significant. ------Habitat :Mainly found in mixed woodland on chalk-rich soil. -------Season :Fruiting in the autumn; long lasting, and sometimes remaining intact through the winter months. ------Occurrence :Uncommon and mainly restricted to southern Britain; quite common in France and other countries in mainland Europe, particularly in the Mediterranean region.. ----Similar species :Several other Geastrum species are of the same general form, and confident identification requires experience. In particular not all Collared Earthstars, Geastrum triplex, split to form a distinct collar, and unsplit specimens can be confused with the Sessile Earthstar ( http://www.first-nature.com/fungi/geastr... )

Notes:

( http://www.mycobank.org/MycoTaxo.aspx?Li... ), ( http://www.soortenbank.nl/soorten.php?so... ) --- even some close specimen, normaly easy overlooked, because mostly half buried in earth and covered under litter