Earthstar / Geastrum sp.

Came across a couple of groupings of these little Earthstar fungi at Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Park, three days ago. Fascinating things and it's always a treat to come across one on a rare occasion. Whenever I've seen them, they are loose, and simply resting on top of the soil and leaf litter, so can easily be picked up (and then replaced in the same spot). The weather was so grey and gloomy that I picked this one up and took several steps in the hope that I might get more light coming through the trees - but there just wasn't any decent light at all, hence not the best quality image. Fun, all the same : )

"The outer, leathery wall (peridium) splits open into the rays of a star, but the rays fold down into "legs" that support the spherical spore case that sits on a short stalk or pedicel. The rays are firmly attached to a clump of mycelium and leaf debris." From waynesword.palomar.edu/ww0504.

This is a very short video showing how an Earthstar works.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY6mwnRPiRU

"Time lapse Earthstar fungi splitting open and then rising off the forest floor.
It raises itself up so that the puff-ball is above the leaf litter and gets a better chance of being struck by raindrops which expels its spores."
Filmed by Neil Bromhall
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