Barometer Earthstar

Edibility

Inedible Source: Wikipedia: Astraeus hygrometricus

Classification from Wikipedia: Astraeus hygrometricus. Sources can be wrong or incomplete, and people react differently.

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Photos

Lookalikes

No lookalikes are recorded for this species yet. That does not mean there are none. Many mushrooms look alike, so never rely on appearance alone.

Season

When this species has been recorded, by month, from open-licensed US and Canada observations. It shows when people report it, not a guarantee it is fruiting.

The highlighted bar is the current month.

Where it is found

States and provinces with the most records. Check the foraging rules for the place you plan to visit.

• California 188 records · Foraging rules
• Florida 170 records · Foraging rules
• Wisconsin 78 records · Foraging rules
• Michigan 75 records · Foraging rules
• Massachusetts 74 records · Foraging rules
• New York 68 records · Foraging rules
• Pennsylvania 64 records · Foraging rules
• North Carolina 55 records · Foraging rules
• Colorado 55 records · Foraging rules
• New Mexico 53 records · Foraging rules
• Arizona 50 records · Foraging rules
• New Jersey 49 records · Foraging rules
• Utah 45 records · Foraging rules
• Texas 39 records · Foraging rules
• Ontario 34 records · Foraging rules

All state and province foraging laws

Identification traits

Traits vary. Use them to ask better questions of an expert, not to make a final call.

About

Astraeus hygrometricus, commonly known as the hygroscopic earthstar, the barometer earthstar, or the false earthstar, is a species of fungus in the family Diplocystaceae. Despite a similar overall appearance, A. hygrometricus is not related to the true earthstars of genus Geastrum, although historically, they have been taxonomically confused. The species was first described by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon in 1801 as Geastrum hygrometricus. In 1885, Andrew P. Morgan proposed that differences in microscopic characteristics warranted the creation of a new genus Astraeus distinct from Geastrum; this opinion was not universally accepted by later authorities. Several Asian populations formerly thought to be A. hygrometricus were renamed in the 2000s once phylogenetic analyses revealed they were unique Astraeus species, including A. asiaticus and A. odoratus. Similarly, in 2013, North American populations were divided into A. pteridis, A. morganii, and A. smithii on the basis of molecular phylogenetics. Young specimens resemble a puffball when unopened. In maturity, the mushroom displays the characteristic earthstar shape that is a result of the outer layer of fruit body tissue splitting open in a star-like manner. The false earthstar is an ectomycorrhizal species that grows in association with various trees, especially in sandy soils. A. hygrometricus was previously thought to have a cosmopolitan distribution, though it is now thought to be restricted to Southern Europe, and Astraeus are common in temperate and tropical regions. Its common names refer to the fact that it is hygroscopic (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 rays have an irregularly cracked surface, while the spore case is pale brown and smooth with an irregular slit or tear at the top. The gleba is white initially, but turns brown and powdery when the spores mature. The spores are reddish-brown and roughly spherical with minute warts, measuring 7.5–11 micrometers in diameter. Research has revealed the presence of several bioactive chemical compounds in Astraeus fruit bodies. North American field guides typically rate A. hygrometricus as inedible; while this may be accurate for the now-separate North American species, A. hygrometricus is commonly consumed in South and Southeast Asia.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the original article.