View Full Version : Collared Earthstar
Fenlander
18-12-2006, 21:57
I found several Collared Earthstars under some Hawthorns today.
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/sufguy1/CollaredEarthstar-5.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e123/sufguy1/CollaredEarthstar-4.jpg
The ball is slightly larger than a two pound coin.
Nice find.....Are they a type of puffball Kevin....?
I know next to nothing on fungi, what are the qualitys of this one and is it unusual?
Nice photos by the way, thanks for showing us!
Nice find Kevin. I've never seen one before. They're a bit outside of their traditional season though aren't they?
Collared Earthstar (http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/gallery/DisplayBlock~bid~5955.asp)
Good find. Earthstars are quite rare in britian, I found one once, 15 years ago!. It is december not august to october. Bye Bye predictable seasonal fungi :sadwavey: Bye Bye using season as a relable criterea for ID :sadwavey:
ByeBye gulf steam, polar ice caps....
Dougster
19-12-2006, 15:28
Good find. Earthstars are quite rare in britian, I found one once, 15 years ago!. It is december not august to october. Bye Bye predictable seasonal fungi :sadwavey: Bye Bye using season as a relable criterea for ID :sadwavey:
ByeBye gulf steam, polar ice caps....
Snow in winter, only two breeding cyles for midges etc etc, bye all.
Sorry off thread, but these photos hihglight an enormous problem that only stays in newspapers three days? And then when they say how it will affect our economy! :sigh:
Fenlander
19-12-2006, 18:12
Nice find.....Are they a type of puffball Kevin....?
They are part of a group known as "stomach fungi" which also includes Puffballs.
i found one aswell, not in as good condition though
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n9/leon-b_2006/DSCF0249.jpg
i found one aswell, not in as good condition though
That's 'cos Fenlander trod on it before you got there!! :lmao:
lol this one was found in my local woods
leon
British Red
14-01-2007, 18:54
Neither the fungus nor the photos are as good as those in this thread, but I wanted to thank you Fenlander - I knew what it was when I spotted a couple today amongst dozens of cramp balls on some fallen ash oddly
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/357191753_0d22ebffe1.jpg
Red
Fenlander
14-01-2007, 19:52
Neither the fungus nor the photos are as good as those in this thread, but I wanted to thank you Fenlander - I knew what it was when I spotted a couple today amongst dozens of cramp balls on some fallen ash oddly
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/357191753_0d22ebffe1.jpg
Red
Doesn't look quite right for Collared Earthstar mate :confused: Why not mail your picture to Jonny at http://www.fenfungi.com/
and see what he thinks ;)
British Red
14-01-2007, 19:59
Okay mate - will do. The outside was fairly "chewed up" but the middle looked right
bushwacker bob
15-01-2007, 08:56
If you live in East Anglia, keep your eyes peeled for the pepper pot fungus,It is similar to the earthstar, but has multiple holes on the top.It was thought to be extinct 120 years ago...Until someone found one last year!
British Red
16-01-2007, 21:05
Saw that on the museum programme the other day!
Got a nice reply for Jonny whilst I was pond hopping....
Thanks for sending the picture and I’m fairly happy that it is a Collared Earthstar (Geastrum triplex). It is well eaten but the size and general shape look good plus this species has a faint halo around the base of the “mouth” on the spore sac. The only alternative would be a Rosy Earthstar (Geastrum rufescens) as your species does have some light buff/pinky tones but without checking out the spores it’s difficult to say. However all earthstars are good to find!
What a fantastic fellah - thanks for the link to his site Kevin!
Red
Fenlander
16-01-2007, 21:13
Saw that on the museum programme the other day!
Got a nice reply for Jonny whilst I was pond hopping....
Thanks for sending the picture and I’m fairly happy that it is a Collared Earthstar (Geastrum triplex). It is well eaten but the size and general shape look good plus this species has a faint halo around the base of the “mouth” on the spore sac. The only alternative would be a Rosy Earthstar (Geastrum rufescens) as your species does have some light buff/pinky tones but without checking out the spores it’s difficult to say. However all earthstars are good to find!
What a fantastic fellah - thanks for the link to his site Kevin!
Red
Glad to be of help my friend :D