Geastrum tenuipes

2 An earthstar at Burra, NSW

Request use of media

Identification history

	Geastrum tenuipes	4 Sep 2017	Heino
	Geastrum tenuipes	30 Aug 2017	Woowoolahra

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

5 comments

Safarigirl wrote:

31 Aug 2017

Nice. Good to see you on board!!!

HelenCross wrote:

20 Jan 2018

Wow! Interesting shapes!

zoedog66 wrote:

31 Jan 2018

Amazing - never seen one of these before! Toxic?

Heino wrote:

31 Jan 2018

I've not come across any mention of this species being toxic Within that raised grey-blue ball all you find is a mass of what looks like cotton wool that holds a great multitude of powdery spores. If the ball is compressed, spores puff out through a mouth at the top of that pleated cone. I'd imagine that someone with breathing difficulties (e.g. an asthmatic) might suffer if they breathed in lots of powdery spores, not because of an inherent toxicity, but simply because of a physical obstruction to airflow. This is not a rare species in the Canberra area but, despite the fact that it looks quite striking in this photo, it is easy to overlook if it appears in thick mulch or plant litter. You may see only a few at a time but occasionally large colonies appear.

zoedog66 wrote:

31 Jan 2018

Thanks Heino - am relatively new to the area, so will keep my eyes peeled.

Please Login or Register to comment.