Earthstar

A less-than-sharp macro of a little Earthstar fungus. In reality, it was maybe an inch and a half across. These are such fun to find, so different from a regular mushroom. Found this one at Brown-Lowery Provincial Park on September 10th. Usually, when I find these, they are sitting loose on leaf litter. Our fungi season is over for this year, so now have to wait another 10 months or so for the next season : (

"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.

If you are interested and have the time, this is a very short, time-released 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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