One of the largest and most distinctive earthstars which grows in groups amongst leaf litter under deciduous trees like beech. The young unopened fruitbody is pointed and closley resembles a tulip bulb about 5cm in diameter:
The dissected fruit body shows the sessile, pale grey-brown spore-sac with the characteristic paler ring around the raised apical pore:
Further dissection shows a glutinous dark brown spore mass:
The globose spore-sac contained inside is revealed when the outer wall splits into 4-8 pointed rays which crack as they bend back under the fruitbody forming the familiar saucer like basal collar:
