Earthstar

I think this little Earthstar fungus was an inch and a half to 2" across. They are such fascinating things. Found this one along with quite a few others at Shannon Terrace, Fish Creek Park, on September 17th.

"The Earth Star is a striking soil fungus, so named because the outer wall of the spore-bearing body splits open into a star.

One metaphor refers to the rays standing on their tips, like a ballet dancer standing on their toes. Like other earthstars, 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 "The Amazing Fungi " website.

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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