Earthballs, Earthstars and Puffballs

[lauriek]

Any thoughts on the following fungi?

I thought both of these might be scally earthballs, but they were different colours, neither look like the common earthballs I've subsequently found and were much smaller (circa 3cm)




These are obviously puffballs of some sort (I assume) but I'm not sure which ones!!

Soft puffballs?


Pestle puffball?


Very small!


Common Puffball?


And some sort of Earthstar to finish! (Geastrum triplex?)


Any help much appreciated, as ever!!

[Leif]

Third from last is Calvatia excipuliformis.

Fourth from last is a Common Puffball.

The last one might be Geastrum fimbriatum. I do not think it is G. triplex as that species usually (always?) has a cup like layer between the ball and the arms. How big was it? G. triplex is usually quite big, with a 3cm ball common, whereas G. fimbriatum is usually smallish, with a 1 - 2 cm ball usual, though I have seen large ones.

[cybershot]

The Earthstar is a G. triplex, distinguished by the paler ring around the apical pore.

The linked thread may be useful for further information regarding the formation of the 'collar' which in fact is not a separate layer but the remaining saucer-like part of the rays after they crack and bend back under the fruiting body. (See photo below).

Geastrum triplex - Collared Eathstar



David

[lauriek]

I suspect triplex - this picture shows the whole group and the left one shows a distincs circle/cup around the ball thing...



Although the balls were nearer 2cm than 3cm...