Geastrum minimum
Species of fungus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Geastrum minimum, the tiny earthstar, is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus Geastrum. Although rare, it is widespread in Europe, where it occurs in a range of habitats.[3] It is a priority species in the UK, where it has been found in the sand dunes at Holkham National Nature Reserve.[4][5]
| Geastrum minimum | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Geastrales |
| Family: | Geastraceae |
| Genus: | Geastrum |
| Species: | G. minimum |
| Binomial name | |
| Geastrum minimum | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Geastrum cesatii Rabenh. (1851) | |
The species was first described by Lewis David de Schweinitz in 1822.[2]
Description
Fruit bodies are initially roughly spherical before the outer peridium splits to form a star with 6–11 "rays". When opened, the diameter of the fruit body is 1–3 centimetres (1⁄2–1+1⁄4 in). The inner spore sac is spherical or egg-shaped, and measures 0.5–1 cm (1⁄4–1⁄2 in). The more-or-less round spores measure 5–5.5–4–4.5 μm and have warts on their surface.[6]
