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Geastrum minimum
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Fungi
Division:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Geastrales
Family:	Geastraceae
Genus:	Geastrum
Species:	G. minimum
Binomial name
Geastrum minimum Schwein. (1822)
Synonyms
Geastrum cesatii Rabenh. (1851)

Geastrum minimum, the tiny earthstar, is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus Geastrum. Although rare, it is widespread in Europe, where it occurs in a range of habitats. It is a priority species in the UK, where it has been found in the sand dunes at Holkham National Nature Reserve.

The species was first described by Lewis David de Schweinitz in 1822.

Description

Fruit bodies are initially roughly spherical before the outer peridium splits to form a star with 6–11 "rays". When opened, the diameter of the fruit body is 1–3 centimetres (1⁄2–1+1⁄4 in). The inner spore sac is spherical or egg-shaped, and measures 0.5–1 cm (1⁄4–1⁄2 in). The more-or-less round spores measure 5–5.5–4–4.5 μm and have warts on their surface.

References

1. von Schweinitz; Lewis David (1822). "Synopsis fungorum Carolinae superioris". Schriften der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Leipzig (in German). 1: 20–131 (see p. 58).
2. ^ "Geastrum minimum Schwein. 1822". MycoBank. International Mycological Association. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
3. Laessoe, T; Pegler, D N; Spooner, B (1995). British Puffballs, Earthstars and Stinkhorns: An Account of the British Gasteroid Fungi. Kew, UK: Royal Botanic Gardens. p. 100. ISBN 0-947643-81-8.
4. Telfer, Mark G; Lambdon, Philip W; Gurney, Mark (2000). "Recent discoveries among the gasteroid fungi of Norfolk". Field Mycology. 1 (1): 30–32. doi:10.1016/S1468-1641(10)60011-4.
5. "UK Priority Species data collation Geastrum minimum" (PDF). JNCC. Retrieved 17 September 2012.
6. Ellis, J B; Ellis, M B (1990). Fungi without Gills (Hymenomycetes and Gasteromycetes): An Identification Handbook. London, UK: Chapman and Hall. p. 229. ISBN 0-412-36970-2.

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