Fungi – Earth Stars – Geastrum triplex • 02.17.11
Earth Star at maturity with centre puff ball ready to release spores.
We just love fungi. Fungi can be found in all shapes and sizes, but one of our favorites are Earth Stars – Geastrum triplex (alternative species name: Geastrum indicum). They are really easy to identify with their unique shape and are generally found in small groups.
Earth Stars range in size from 70 – 100mm across (star points) and initially just look like little half buried white or light colored balls. They become most easy to identify once they mature as they split open into their unique star shaped form. It is at this stage that the centre ball of the fungi performs it’s reproductive function and puffs out dark spores from the centre hole which are light and can blow away in the wind.
Earth Stars are often found in small groups in leaf litter habitat on the ground.
Spores tend to land quite close and so if the ground remains undisturbed the fungi should reappear in the localised area once conditions are right again. Like most fungi they are detrivores eating up rotting or decaying materials and releasing nutrients back into the soil. Fungi keep the soil healthy by recycling nutrients from dead materials back to the soil for uptake and use by other plants and animals.
On our bushblock Earth Stars have readily been found in the same localised areas amongst leaf litter and twigs etc on the ground. This leaf litter layer is really important providing the dead material that these fungi need to survive. Although unfortunately since the bushfire in February 2009 we haven’t yet seen the Earth Stars in their usual spots, these photos were taken a few years ago.
We are thinking that the ground cover of plant material is currently so thick and alive as it in recovery mode after the bushfire which maybe currently doesn’t support the Earth Stars. We keep looking out though as with all the wet weather we have had plenty of other fungi species in abundance. Has anyone seen any Earth Stars in bushland recovering from bushfire yet?
