Geastrum These can look like a puffball at first, but are called Earthstars because of the way the outer covering splits and peels back to give it a star shape. The spores are contained inside a thin-skinned puffball (fruit-body) that is exposed when the 'petals' fold back. The spores are released through a small hole at the top when rain drops hit the ball. Earthstars are found in leaf litter in the bush, and can be well camoflaged, making them difficult to find. |
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Geastrum velutinum Morgan
The developing fruiting body of this species has a reddish brown hairy outer layer and lacks a beak. The puffball is 25–30 mm in diam.
Geastrum triplex Jungh.
In this species the outer wall consists of three layers. The developing fruiting body has a “beak” on the top of it. The puffball is 25–30 mm in diam.
