Skip to main content
Today is National Trails Day!
Close

Hygroscopic earthstars

Astraeus hygrometricus

Photo by Mark Ridgway
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

-37.8721, 145.35

Field Notes

Description:

Crackled 'rays' on a pair of plain earth-stars.

Habitat:

Under a stand of very old Pinus radiata in pine needles.

Notes:

'Collared Earth Star' looks wrong at .....
Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geastrum_triplex
and.....
CSIRO http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Geastrum+triplex

Thanks EduHerNav

These are not related to the 'true' earthstars (Geastrum) Hygroscopic because it can respond to humidity by opening and closing it's 'rays'.

Reference Links:

Facts about Barometer Earthstar (Astraeus hygrometricus), Astraeus hygrometricus, Astraeus hygrometricus : Barometer Earthstar | Atlas of Living Australia

Species ID Suggestions

Barometer star

Astraeus hygrometricus
EduHerNav
1

Comments (12)
Mark Ridgway
EOL certainly has a different version... thanks again EHN I think those sites might have it wrong.
Mark Ridgway
Thanks so much for the input EduHerNav. Can you give any references to support your suggestion? The links to Wiki and CSIRO (our government scientific organisation) above both clearly show a species with 'cracked rays'. Both those sites have been known to be in error before though...?
EduHerNav
Astraeus has cracked rays and undefined mouth. G. triplex has a definite mouth (like a ring).
EduHerNav
Nice pic! but that's an Astraeus, not a Geastrum.
lori.tas
I've seen them up on Mt. Wellington (above Hobart), and in Mt. Field National Park. Both very wet natural environments. We're Black peppermint dominant dry schlerophyll at our place, and, in addition to several hectares of native bush, have a stand of mature pines (which the Yellow-tailed black cockatoos love) - they'll be surrounded by Slippery Jacks soon.
Mark Ridgway
Thanks Lori. Yes I remember your eyeballs. :-) I can only remember these near introduced Pinus sp. but might be wrong.
lori.tas
Not that I know of. I've only seen them in native settings. Whereas we have lots of pines on our place, and the 'shrooms that love them.
MartinL
I haven't seen this type before. Are they introduced with pine?
lori.tas
Very nice earthstars, Mark (and yes, a lovely photo). I only ever seem to spot them when they look like shriveled eyeballs.
Mark Ridgway
Thanks Dan. I liked this pic for the colors, shades and patterns.

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Mushroom Mapping
Mission
Dandenong Ranges - fauna & flora
Photographed
PublishedSeptember 2, 2013

Community Sponsor

Butterfly
Become a Community Sponsor and Help Grow our Global Movement!

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Butterflies icon
Become a Community Sponsor

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon

Nature & Conservation Organizations

Brands & Mission-Focused Companies