Contents
Geastrum triple belongs to the Zvezdovikov family, which got its name due to its characteristic appearance. The fruit body of this fungus has a unique shape, which makes it difficult to confuse it with other representatives of the forest kingdom. Distributed almost everywhere.
What does triple gestrum look like?
The fruiting body of the gestrum triple has a round shape. In the center of its upper part there is a slight swelling. The height of the fruiting body of the triple gestrum reaches 5 cm, and the diameter rarely exceeds 3.5 cm. Young mushrooms look like champignons or puffballs with a tubercle.
Appearance of fruiting bodies at different stages of maturity
With age, the outer layer breaks into 3-7 parts having a lobed shape. The diameter of the unfolded shell of the fruiting body can reach 12 cm. Outwardly, the triple gestrum becomes like a star. The color of the mushroom can be the most diverse – from light brown to white or dark gray.
“Opened” gestrum triple
The flesh of the inner part is loose and soft. But the outer cracking shell has a denser structure – it is elastic and leathery.
The spores mature in the inside of the fungus. In the place where the tubercle forms, over time, a hole appears through which they are sown.
Where and how to grow
It is found all over the planet in temperate and in some cases subtropical climate zones. It adapts well to temperature fluctuations.
It lives in mixed or deciduous forests, yet prefers to form mycorrhiza with coniferous trees. Often found in places of accumulation of discarded leaves and spruce branches. Undemanding to soils. It occurs mainly in large groups of several dozen mushrooms in one place.
Fruiting occurs in late summer and September. At the slightest touch, the spore sac bursts and fills everything around with gray powder.
Is the mushroom edible or not?
Geastrum triple is not poisonous, but it is not eaten either, since the inner flesh is loose and tasteless. The outer shell, in addition to being inedible, is also too hard and leathery. Belongs to the inedible group.
Twins and their differences
Considering the characteristic appearance of the triple gestrum, it is very problematic to confuse it with representatives of any other families. On the other hand, among his “relatives” related to the Zvezdovikovs, there are many doubles that can be mistaken for him. These varieties are discussed in more detail below:
Starfish fringed
Unlike gestrum triple has a darker shade. In addition, the outer shell after the rupture is tucked almost to the leg. Just like triple gestrum, it is not edible.
In the fringed starfish, the outer shell twists with greater intensity
Geastrum blackhead
It differs in larger sizes (up to 7 cm in height), a strongly protruding tubercle and a characteristic color when opened. In addition, this twin is found exclusively in deciduous forests.
Sowing of spores of this species occurs already at the stage of opening the leathery shell
Starship crowned
Differences in appearance are manifested in the arrangement of the inner part of the fruiting body: it is more flattened. The spores are brown and the stalk is almost absent. In addition, this variety is found mainly on clay soils.
The crowned star has a smaller size and a flattened shape of the inner fruiting body
Like the triple gestrum, it is inedible. It is a rather rare species with a limited habitat – it is found only on the European Plain and in the North Caucasus.
Conclusion
The Zvezdovikovy family, which includes the triple gestrum, has a unique appearance, so it is unlikely to confuse this mushroom with any other. A feature of this species is its good adaptation to the environment and ubiquity. All members of the family belong to inedible mushrooms, since their flesh is not only loose, but also tasteless.
