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| 1 | 2 |  » Stats |
Members: 50,139
Threads: 82,299
Posts: 852,946
Top Poster: glsammy (15,069)
| | Welcome to our newest member, jo0ls | |  | | 
18-11-2007, 07:51 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Yateley, Hampshire
Posts: 3,231
| | | Monster Earthstars
This monster was found during the 'Shrooms (ABFG) foray in Minley Wood, Hants today. It was in a group alongside G. triplex, but was 2-3 times the size of a normal triplex and the pale ring around the apical pore was not quite as distinguishable:   |
18-11-2007, 07:58 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: East Harling, Norfolk
Posts: 8,965
| | | Re: Monster Earthstars
These things were the biggest I've ever seen and I'd chance at saying they were the biggest I'll see in a long, long time. The diameter of the whole specimen must have been about 25 x 25cm. Absolute monsters.
Nick  |
18-11-2007, 10:01 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Basingstoke, Hampshire
Posts: 2,580
| | | Re: Monster Earthstars
A bit confused over the dimensions, Davids picture and scale indicates 12cm fully expanded from the tips of the rays, Nick implies 25cm, which would certainly be a monster.
12 cm from the tips of the rays is certainly a good specimen. Looking through my field notes the largest I have recorded was 9cm, majority averaged 7cm.
On an aside, it amuses me when refering to reference books to see that the habitat is nearly always given as broad leaf woods. Nearly all the specimens I have come across have been with conifers, usually spruce. If I am not mistaken these seem to be happily growing amongst conifers.
Gerry |
18-11-2007, 10:06 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Edge of the New Forest, Hampshire
Posts: 5,208
| | | Re: Monster Earthstars
Nice one.
I've yet to see one.  |
18-11-2007, 10:08 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: East Harling, Norfolk
Posts: 8,965
| | | Re: Monster Earthstars
I'd have definitely said it was over 12. From what I saw it was what I first stated. Might have been a slight bit of unintentional exaggeration there...If I had to say in all seriousness, I think that they were at least 15cm. |
18-11-2007, 10:16 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Yateley, Hampshire
Posts: 3,231
| | | Re: Monster Earthstars
My pic was not the biggest one in the group, but chosen for it's visual appeal. And Phillips website has G. triplex at 5-15cm
Last edited by cybershot; 18-11-2007 at 10:19 PM.
|
19-11-2007, 01:15 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Yateley, Hampshire
Posts: 3,231
| | | Re: Monster Earthstars
Quote:
Originally Posted by NickCantle  I'd have definitely said it was over 12. From what I saw it was what I first stated. Might have been a slight bit of unintentional exaggeration there...If I had to say in all seriousness, I think that they were at least 15cm. | Nick's right; I went back with a tape today and even though the rays are bending under now, it still measures 16cm across.
David |
19-01-2008, 10:41 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Yateley, Hampshire
Posts: 3,231
| | | Re: Monster Earthstars
Apparently the foray leader measured one of the largest specimens and a 7cm spore sac was collected and, through the auspices of ABFG, submitted to Kew for verification which has now been confirmed as Geastrum triplex - Collared Earthstar.
David
Chaka , my ridgeback, standing guard over the monster Earthstar patch in Minley Wood;  |
19-01-2008, 02:17 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: East Harling, Norfolk
Posts: 8,965
| | | Re: Monster Earthstars
Excellent. So Miss Campbell is getting around to sending some specimen samples off. That is good news indeed. What a good day that was for December. Back there this Autumn for those Hygrocybe Miniata 
Cheers David,
Nick |
19-01-2008, 04:33 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Hertfordshire..
Posts: 2,488
| | | Re: Monster Earthstars
Quote:
Originally Posted by cybershot This monster was found during the 'Shrooms (ABFG) foray in Minley Wood, Hants today. It was in a group alongside G. triplex, but was 2-3 times the size of a normal triplex and the pale ring around the apical pore was not quite as distinguishable: | Well David thats certainly a big one..
Julie
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