Species
Astraeus hygrometricus (Hygroscopic earthstar)
Astraeus hygrometricus. Photo: (c) Davide Puddu, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Astraeus hygrometricus, commonly known as the hygroscopic earthstar, the barometer earthstar, or the false earthstar, is a species of fungus in the family Diplocystaceae. Young specimens resemble a puffball when unopened. In maturity, the mushroom displays the characteristic earthstar shape that is a result of the outer layer of fruit body tissue splitting open in a star-like manner. The false earthstar is an ectomycorrhizal species that grows in association with various trees, especially in sandy soils….
- Humboldt Life
- Kingdom: Fungi (Fungi including lichens)
- Phylum: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycete fungi)
- Subphylum: Agaricomycotina (Higher basidiomycetes)
- Class: Agaricomycetes
- Subclass: Agaricomycetidae
- Order: Boletales (Boletes and allies)
- Family: Astraeaceae
- Genus: Astraeus (Barometer earthstars)
- Species: Astraeus hygrometricus (Hygroscopic earthstar)
- Genus: Astraeus (Barometer earthstars)
- Family: Astraeaceae
- Order: Boletales (Boletes and allies)
- Subclass: Agaricomycetidae
- Class: Agaricomycetes
- Subphylum: Agaricomycotina (Higher basidiomycetes)
- Phylum: Basidiomycota (Basidiomycete fungi)
- Kingdom: Fungi (Fungi including lichens)



