Astraeus (fungus)

Astraeus
Astraeus hygrometricus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Fungi
Division: Basidiomycota
Class: Agaricomycetes
Order: Boletales
Family: Diplocystaceae
Genus: Astraeus
Morgan (1885)
Type species
Astraeus hygrometricus
(Pers.) Morgan (1889)
Species

A. asiaticus
A. hygrometricus
A. koreanus
A. morganii
A. odoratus
A. pteridis
A. sirindhorniae
A. smithii
A. telleriae

Astraeus is a genus of fungi in the family Diplocystaceae.[1] The genus, which has a cosmopolitan distribution, contains nine species of earthstar mushroom.[2] They are distinguished by the outer layer of flesh (exoperidium) that at maturity splits open in a star-shape manner to reveal a round spore sac.[3] Additionally, they have a strongly hygroscopic character—the rays will open when moist, but when hot and dry will close to protect the spore sac. Species of Astraeus grow on the ground in ectomycorrhizal associations with trees and shrubs.[4] Despite their similar appearance to the Geastrum earthstars, the species of Astraeus are not closely related.

  1. ^ "Index Fungorum - Astraeus". indexfungorum.org. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  2. ^ "Species Fungorum - Astraeus". www.speciesfungorum.org. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Miller1988 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Cannon2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).