[fairplay]

Close, only when G.triplex hasn't yet formed a collar or the collar has disintegrated. Otherwise G.triplex is easy to separate.

Both G.fimbriatum and G.triplex are our commonest earthstars (but still seldom seen), but there is also a very rare earthstar called G.lageniforme which can only be separated from G.triplex with difficulty.

It is important to remember that when G.triplex first emerges the collar will not as yet have separated from the rays, and likewise when old, the collar can disintegrate/break away.
In this state one can easily confuse the body with another earthstar.

Neil.