False Earthstar - Astraeus hygrometricus

            A truly bizarre looking fungus it goes by several different common names including Barometer and Hygroscopic Earthstar but despite looking like an Earthstar it is not related to them.

In the UK this is an extremely rare species known from a handful of sites in the South West, mainly in Cornwall so it’s safe to say stumbling across a small group 100s of miles away in Newcastle upon Tyne in none typical habitat was a surprise.

Unsurprisingly there are no known records in the region and how they got here will remain a mystery.

Its common names Barometer and Hygroscopic Earthstar refer to the fact that it is hygroscopic (ie water-absorbing) and can open up its rays to expose the spore sac in response to increased humidity, then close them up again in drier conditions. The alternate name of False Earthstar is due to it being unrelated to the Geastrum Earthstar family, being more closely related to the puff and earth balls.

They grow underground as a single sphere and when they mature they crack open and the rays pushing down forces it to break the surface and lift the spore-sac up.  The colours on this one (and the hole in the ground underneath it) suggest that it had only recently emerged rather than a couple of the others near it that were dark and rotting away.

Quite small, it can sit in the palm of my hand.

In Greek mythology the Titan Astraeus was the god of dusk (when the stars come out). Astraeus married Eos, goddess of the dawn, and among their children were the five planets of our sun known to exist at that time but considered to be 'wandering stars'.

Hygrometricus means 'water measurer', a reference to the way the rays respond to changes in humidity.

Whatever next!

Taken on: February 10, 2024

Tags:

Astraeus hygrometricus

Astraeus

False Earthstar

Barometer Earthstar

Hygroscopic

Hygroscopic Earthstar

Fungi

Mycology

Macro

Northumberland

Newcastle Upon Tyne

Canon

Sigma

Canon 7d Mark II

Sigma 105 Macro

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