earthstar

earth·star

E0009100 (ûrth′stär′)n. Any of various mushrooms of the family Geastraceae, having a round spore case like that of a puffball with an outer covering that splits open in a starlike form.

earthstar

(ˈɜːθˌstɑː) n (Plants) any of various basidiomycetous saprotrophic woodland fungi of the genus Geastrum, whose brown onion-shaped reproductive body splits into a star shape to release the spores

earth•star

(ˈɜrθˌstɑr)

n. a fungus of the genus Geaster, having an outer covering that splits into the form of a star. [1810–20]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

earthstar - any fungus of the family Geastraceae; in form suggesting a puffball whose outer peridium splits into the shape of a starfungus - an organism of the kingdom Fungi lacking chlorophyll and feeding on organic matter; ranging from unicellular or multicellular organisms to spore-bearing syncytiafamily Geastraceae, Geastraceae - a family of earthstar fungi belonging to the order LycoperdalesGeastrum coronatum - an earthstar with a bluish spore sac and a purplish brown gleba; at maturity the outer layer splits into rays that bend backward and elevate the spore sacAstreus pteridis - the largest earthstar; the fruiting body can measure 15 cm across when the rays are expandedAstreus hygrometricus - a common species of earthstar widely distributed in sandy soil; the gleba is a pale tan