Earthstar unknown

PMG · #1 (**permalink**) 23-08-2009, 07:47 PM

ok I know this is asking a bit much - but it might be interesting even it doesn't lead anywhere ......... I picked this up a few days ago and stuffed in my pocket and forgot about it ........ it was already dried and curly when it went in the pocket so it hasn't gone any worse than when I found it. I'm not sure where I spotted it - but I think at Newborough Warren while wandering round the pine wood looking at huge patches of wintergreen ....... my mind whispered that it was something rare - so as it was loose and had done its job - I pocketed it.

Its tiny size just under 4cms high grey top and white rays made me think it was one of the rarer ones straight off. I've looked it up and either of the choices are rare (why I should always shy away from finding something rare I don't know but I just do!) as in 'oh no this is me - it can't be rare' !! Despite how it appears there are only 4 rays - which have split and gone curly but the original spilts into rays number only 4 .........

I'm looking at Geastrum quadrifidium - Rayed Earthstar - its features fit and I think I picked it up while in the pine wood and knowing that Newboro' contains all kinds of rare things I think I'm going to settle down and accept that I may have found something a tad more interesting than G. triplex for once!!!!

Answers and or disagreement on a post it please

Pauline

I haven't done anything other than sharpen but I see its gone a 'warmer' shade on wab - its got the textbook leaden grey top - even looked at under my table lamp here in my hand. The image is a 'live scan' rather than a photograph - as a photo at this time of night would be the wrong colours and very misleading - a white light scan inside an upturned buttie box gave good colours but its appeared slightly warmer on the web ........

Then for arguments sake and cos the little camera was here I've used that as well!

Chris Yeates · #2 (**permalink**) 24-08-2009, 12:46 AM

hi Pauline

I think you could well have Geastrum pectinatum there; the absence of a basal collar to the endoperidial body (on the 'neck' below the 'head' in normal speak

) would seem to rule out G. striatum and I can't see what else it could be

tho' stand to be slapped down / corrected . . .

best wishes

Chris

PMG · #3 (**permalink**) 24-08-2009, 06:00 AM

I had put a post up which said I think you;re right Chris - then I've looked again at the pics and the specimen and I can see a slight ring at the bottom of the spore sac which takes me right back to quadrifidium ......... its so dried up its difficult and I probably shouldn't even be trying - but there is a collar - dried up and its darker and pulled out of shape but it is there ........... and again the size of this little thing is a lot less than my thumb and its difficult to imagine it being any bigger when it was fresh ......... there's prob no way to prove it one way or t'other!

Pauline

SheffieldLass · #4 (**permalink**) 24-08-2009, 12:07 PM

I thought I'd add this one to the thread, see if I can get a name for this one .... found under an exotic conifer in needle litter. Spores subglobose, 4.2-5.4um. This one definitely with a collar, and size of top 15-20mm dia .

Melanie

Chris Yeates · #5 (**permalink**) 24-08-2009, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SheffieldLass

I thought I'd add this one to the thread, see if I can get a name for this one .... found under an exotic conifer in needle litter. Spores subglobose, 4.2-5.4um. This one definitely with a collar, and size of top 15-20mm dia .

Melanie

hi Melanie

that looks more like striatum

Chris

Chris Yeates · #6 (**permalink**) 24-08-2009, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMG

. . . there is a collar - dried up and its darker and pulled out of shape but it is there ........... and again the size of this little thing is a lot less than my thumb and its difficult to imagine it being any bigger when it was fresh ......... there's prob no way to prove it one way or t'other!
Pauline

obviously you have the thing in front of you, Pauline, but I don't think that that really counts as a collar . . . in addition I would expect quadrifidum to show a more obvious flattened paler area around the peristome (apical opening) and for that peristome not to be as markedly plicate (pleated) as yours

I still think pectinatum; keep the material - there definitely will be a way to "prove it one way or t'other"; in any case Kew would be interested if it were quadrifidum, as I don't think that species has been reported from Wales (they certainly don't have any voucher material from the principality)

best

Chris