Earth Stars — Astreas Hygrometricus

These are Water Measure Earth Stars, Astreas hygrometricus. They open up when it’s wet, pushing themselves up through the Oak duff.

The petals (rays) of this fungus curl up when conditions are dry, then repeat when a rain comes, pushing themselves up again above the duff. They can do this for a decade or more!

I’ve studied them for several years, collecting some of the prime specimens to take home and put in my yard. I put them in other people’s yards too, putting them where hopefully, they'll be noticed when they open up.

When an Earthstar opens up, they remind me of a creature, maybe even something that might have just fell out of the sky, an alien looking thing. Most people don’t even recognize them as anything when they’re dried up and curled. But when you see them open, holding their puff ball shaped spore sack high above the ground, you’d think they might wonder.

(Continued below)