Astraeus pteridis
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| Astraeus pteridis | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Boletales |
| Family: | Diplocystaceae |
| Genus: | Astraeus |
| Species: | A. pteridis |
| Binomial name | |
| Astraeus pteridis | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Scleroderma pteridis Shear (1902) | |
Astraeus pteridis | |
|---|---|
 | Glebal hymenium |
 | No distinct cap |
 | Hymenium attachment is not applicable |
| Lacks a stipe |
 | Spore print is brown |
 | Ecology is mycorrhizal |
 | Edibility is inedible |
Astraeus pteridis, commonly known as the giant hygroscopic earthstar,[2] is a species of false earthstar in the family Diplocystaceae. It is found in North America.
The species was described by American mycologist Cornelius Lott Shear in 1902 under the name Scleroderma pteridis.[3] Sanford Myron Zeller transferred it to Astraeus in 1948.[4]
Description
A. pteridis reaches 5 to 15 centimetres (2 to 6 in) or more when expanded, and often has a more pronounced areolate pattern on the inner surface of the rays.[2] Like other Astraeus species, it is hygroscopic, with rays expanding in humid conditions and closing in arid conditions. It is not typically considered edible.[2]
It closely resembles the European A. hygrometricus, but is larger.[2] Within Astraeus, A. pteridis is most closely related to A. morganii.