Geastraceae
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It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Geastrales. (Discuss) Proposed since May 2010. |
| Earthstars | |
|---|---|
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| Geastrum triplex | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Phylum: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Subclass: | Phallomycetidae |
| Order: | Geastrales |
| Family: | Geastraceae |
| Genera | |
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Geasteroides |
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The earthstars are the family Geastraceae of gasterocarpic basidiomycetes (mushrooms). It includes the genera Geastrum and Myriostoma. About sixty-four species are classified in this family, divided among eight genera.
Older classifications place this family in the order Lycoperdales, but more recently they have been placed in Phallales.[1] As of 2010, the family is classified as the sole taxon in the Geastrales order.[2]
One member of this family, Sphaerobolus stellatus, is a nuisance organism in landscapes known as "shotgun fungus" or "cannonball fungus", which colonizes wood-based mulches and may throw black, spore-containing globs onto nearby painted surfaces.
The fruit bodies of several earthstars are hygroscopic: in dry weather the "petals" will dry and curl up around the soft spore sac, protecting it. In this state, often the whole fungus becomes detached from the ground and may roll around as a tumbleweed does. When the weather dampens the "petals" moisten and uncurl and some even curl backward lifting the spore sac up. This then allows rain or animal movement to hit the spore sac so that it will puff out spores when there is enough moisture for them to germinate.
[edit] References
- ^ Kirk PM, Cannon PF, David JC, Stalpers JA. (2001). Ainsworth & Bisby's Dictionary of the Fungi (9th ed.). Oxon: CABI Bioscience. p. 205. ISBN 0-85199-377-X.
- ^ Kirk PM, Cannon PF, Minter DW, Stalpers JA. (2008). Dictionary of the Fungi. (10th ed.). Wallingford: CABI Bioscience. p. 274. ISBN 9780851998268.
[edit] Further reading
- Alexopolous, C.J., Charles W. Mims, M. Blackwell et al., Introductory Mycology, 4th ed. (John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken NJ, 2004) ISBN 0-471-52229-5
- Arora, David. (1986). "Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi". 2nd ed. Ten Speed Press. ISBN 0898151694
- Hosaka, K., et al. (2006). "Molecular phylogenetics of the gomphoid-phalloid fungi with an establishment of the new subclass Phallomycetidae and two new orders". Mycologia 98: 955. doi:10.3852/mycologia.98.6.949
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