Earthstar

It is a Geastrum (orthographical variant Geaster), a genus of mushroom in the family Geastraceae. Many species are known commonly as earthstars.

The name comes from geo meaning earth and aster meaning star.

It refers to the behavior of the outer peridium. At maturity, the outer layer of the fruiting body splits into segments which turn outward creating a star-like pattern on the ground.

If the outer peridium opens when wet and closes when dry, it is described as hygroscopic.

The inner peridium is a spore sack. In some species, the outer peridium splits from a middle layer, causing the spore sack to arch off the ground.

They are generally not toxic but considered non-edible due to their fibrous texture in the mature stage that they are generally found at.

More mushrooms of the Sant valley