Fauna
Fungus

Earthstar Fungus

Geastrum pectinatum

Also known as Beaked Earthstar, Beret Earthstar

Beaked earthstars emerge from soil as rounded, egg-like structures before their outer wall splits into starlike rays that arch downward to elevate the central spore sac. A distinctive stalk and finely ribbed, conical beak top the papery spore bulb, facilitating spore dispersal when raindrops strike the surface. These saprotrophic fungi play a key ecological role by decomposing leaf litter and fallen woody debris in woodland ecosystems.

FungiWoodlandDecomposer
Earthstar Fungus reference1 / 7
(c) Alice Shanks, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preySaprotrophic (decaying organic matter)
Predators
  • Slugs
  • Fungus Gnats
  • Beetles
ThreatsHabitat destruction, soil compaction, clear-cutting
HabitatsConiferous and mixed woodlands, sandy forest soils, leaf litter
Life spanFruiting body persists for several months
Classification
  1. FamilyGeastraceae
  2. SpeciesGeastrum pectinatum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Many wild fungi have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild mushrooms based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Habitat Scouting: Search around the base of pine and spruce trees where needle litter accumulates.
  • Rain Dispersal: Observe after rainstorms to catch water droplets tapping the sac to release spore clouds.
  • Gentle Handling: Avoid stepping on mature specimens, as the papery sac crushes easily.
Related species
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