12 October 2006 Buckinghamshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. Common Name Sessile Earthstar Fruiting Body Initially sub-spherical to egg shaped, the outer skin splits at the apex and folds back into 5 to 9 arms, to reveal a ball shaped sack containing the spores which it releases through an apical opening, or peristome, in the thin outer skin. The arms often fold back underneath the fungus sometimes lifting up the spore sack. The peristome has a distinctly ragged or fringed edge. The fungus grows to about 6 cm across. Flesh Whitish Smell Indistinct Taste Indistinct Season Autumn Distribution Infrequent Habitat On humus rich soil in deciduous and coniferous woods, especially near stumps Spore Print Yellow brown Microscopic Features Spores spherical, finely warty (3-4) µm across Edibility Inedible Notes The fungus is named for its fimbriate peristome i.e. the fringed opening in the spore sack. 
12 October 2006 Buckinghamshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
29 September 2006 Buckinghamshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. 
15 October 2017 Hampshire. Photograph copyright Leif Goodwin. |