Astraeus hygrometricus    (Pers.:Pers.) Morgan 

common name(s) : Barometer Earthstar, Hygrometric Earth Star 

New classification: Basidiomycota/Agaricomycotina/Agaricomycetes/Agaricomycetidae/Boletales/Diplocystidiaceae  
Former classification: Basidiomycota/Homobasidiomycetes/Gasteromycetideae/Sclerodermatales/Astraeaceae  

synonyms: Geastrum hygrometricum 
(unconfirmed synonyms: Geastrum hygrometricus, Geaster hygrometricus)  

edibility : inedible

photo gallery of Astraeus hygrometricus
photo gallery of Astraeus hygrometricus potential confusions with Astraeus hygrometricus toxicity of Astraeus hygrometricus genus Astraeus  

The fruiting body is star-shaped with 6-15 rays, opening or closing depending on the humidity level, and with a central spore sac, with whitish grey to brown rays, the spore sac being light grey to beige, without stem.

The fertile surface is internal: the spores are released as dust when mature.

It grows on the ground, in dunes, woodlands, sandy soils, more often in warm climates, on a rather acid soil.

The fruiting period takes place from August to December.
Dimensions: width of fruiting body approximately 6 cm (between 1 and 10 cm)
  total height approximately 2.5 cm (between 1 and 4 cm)


Astraeus hygrometricus is rare and confined in the forest of Rambouillet, and is quite rare, more generally speaking .
here should be the distribution map of Astraeus hygrometricus in the forest of Rambouillet
Above : distribution map of Astraeus hygrometricus in the forest of Rambouillet



page updated on 14/01/18