Starfish crowned (Geastrum coronatum)
Systematics:- Department: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycetes)
- Subdivision: Agaricomycotina (Agaricomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes (Agaricomycetes)
- Subclass: Phallomycetidae (Veselkovye)
- Order: Geastrales
- Family: Geastraceae (Geastric or Starfish)
- Genus: Geastrum (Geastrum or Zvezdovik)
- Species: Geastrum coronatum (Starfish crowned)
The crowned starfish ( lat.Geastrum coronatum ) is a fungus of the famous Starfish family. Scientifically called an earthen star. In a mature mushroom, the outer shell of the fruiting body breaks, making it look like a large open star. Among mushroom pickers, it is considered a completely inedible mushroom and is not eaten.
The type of crowned starfish is very peculiar, which distinguishes it from mushrooms of other genera and families. The mushroom is considered the closest relative of raincoat mushrooms.
The spherical fruiting bodies of a young fungus are completely underground. When, during the growth of the fungus, the outer fruit part of the shell cracks, pointed blades of the fungus appear on the surface of the earth. They are painted gray with a predominance of matte sheen. Between these lobes is an elongated mushroom neck, on which there is a brownish fruit ball with a stomata in the upper part, through which spores are thrown out. The spherical spores of the starfish are dark brown. The leg, traditional for all mushrooms, is absent in this species.
In appearance, the mushroom is similar to the inedible Schmarda mushroom star (Geastrum smardae). But her blades of a light colored mushroom body can flake off.
The distribution area is the forests of the European part of Russia and the mountain forests of the North Caucasus. Grows well in forests above sea level.
The crowned starlet is found in the autumn period in gardens and parks under shrubs and deciduous trees. A favorite place for the fungus to settle is sandy and clayey soil, covered with a variety of low grasses.
Due to its unusual structure and rather rare appearance, it is of scientific interest for professional mushroom pickers.