Collared Earthstar

Collared Earthstars are larger than other earthstar species, and they have a spore-sac diameter up to 5cm and arms that span twice that distance when fully outstretched. A flattened spherical spore-sac holds the powdery gleba with which the spores are distributed.

As with other earthstars, the bulb is mounted on a star-shaped base, but Geastrum triplex is commonly referred to as the Collared Earthstar because in many instances the arms crack as they bend, with the result that the spore-sac seems to be sitting on a separate saucer-like layer. There is no stem.