Geastrum Triplex

[goosey]

I must admit the possibility of these being Geastrum triplex wouldn't have crossed my mind if David hadn't uploaded an image to the gallery which looked very much like these.

Now for the story .
Last week I could smell a very strong and pungent Phallus impudicus but I looked and looked and couldn't find it. Today when I went past the same spot I had a sniff and nothing as I rode by, but when I came back from the opposite direction I could smell it stronger than ever. No matter how I looked I couldn't see one, but it smelled as if I were right next to it. Then I spotted these - seven in all including three inside a split log. I got my hopes up thinking maybe just maybe they could be Phallus hadriani and that was what I could smell. Not having seen any before let alone the eggs which turn dark after a while being exposed to the air.
Take a breath - anyway, still not considering the pointed apex decided to cut one in half seeing as there were plenty, imagine my disappointment when I discovered no gleba . I think the stinkhorn smell was just a red herring (though it smelled nothing like herring)

Then I thought of David's Geastrum.



I needn't have put myself and you through all that I could have just said "are these Geastrum triplex"

[Cybershot]

Certainly looks like a Geastrum species, but in my (limited) experience when the G. triplex 'bulb is sectioned like that the spore mass within the sac appears to be dark brown, viz:

Geastrum triplex - Collared Eathstar - Wild About Britain

Well worth monitoring this over its development to see what emerges.

Very interesting.

David


I needn't have put myself and you through all that I could have just said "are these Geastrum triplex"

But then we wouldn't have experienced your palpable excitement Shirley

[goosey]

Yes they are!
I last checked these on 23-09 2010 and there was no change and wasn't really expecting to find any today. But there were two fully developed collared earthstars -Geastrum triplex. The others are still at the bulb stage, some showing signs of cracking so they should open soon.

[Cybershot]

I checked the 'bulbs' I found some while ago (15 Aug) and they still haven't started to split yet.

[goosey]

Originally Posted by Cybershot

I checked the 'bulbs' I found some while ago (15 Aug) and they still haven't started to split yet.

Yours must be duds , these are the same ones from 3 days ago!

[Cybershot]

Originally Posted by goosey

Yours must be duds , these are the same ones from 3 days ago!

There's nothing dud about me kiddo..........



Discovered today they had nearly all split and developed to maturity

[goosey]

Originally Posted by Cybershot

There's nothing dud about me kiddo..........

Glad to hear it!

I was expecting this to have emerged by now, but it was the state of it which surprised me - it looks so old and as if it has been hanging around for ages instead of a maximum of 2 days.

[goosey]

I thought this thread was finished with .
On the 5th I checked these and another had opened and I realised that there were actually 8 earthstar/bulbs in all and not 7.
Today I had another look and I saw this strange one had since opened. I think the sphere bit containing the gleba has just been removed some how by something rather than grown like this. Mind you, I am not sure how, as it is inside the split trunk so it couldn't have been kicked off by one of the larger mammals. I had a look and couldn't see it.
Do you think I am wrong and it has grown like this? It does look so different the way the petals are furled .

[Cybershot]

I actually think it has somehow been flipped over onto its back. My close studies of these has shown that the splitting 'petal' points of the star eventually bend far back under the fruit body and in some cases almost lift it off the ground. The do not disturb policy doesn't always pay dividends especially if amongst a host of fruit bodies.

David

[goosey]

Originally Posted by Cybershot

I actually think it has somehow been flipped over onto its back. My close studies of these has shown that the splitting 'petal' points of the star eventually bend far back under the fruit body and in some cases almost lift it off the ground. The do not disturb policy doesn't always pay dividends especially if amongst a host of fruit bodies.

David

Do you thinks so, I didn't notice that it wasn't flush to the ground. I will be in the area tomorrow touch wood, and I will have another look and turn it over.

[goosey]

Originally Posted by Cybershot

I actually think it has somehow been flipped over onto its back. My close studies of these has shown that the splitting 'petal' points of the star eventually bend far back under the fruit body and in some cases almost lift it off the ground. The do not disturb policy doesn't always pay dividends especially if amongst a host of fruit bodies.

David

Well done David, you were absolutely right, it was upside down - silly me .