I've never seen this fascinating fungus. It has seven rubbery "arms" like a star-fish, and in the exact center, a mushroom-like ball that looks like a medium sized marshmallow. I took it home, and as it dried, the arms closed around the soft "marshmallow" and lost their rubberiness. It reminds me of a cotton boll. When I sat it in a plate of water, the "arms" opened and became rubbery and it stood up on the points of the arms to not get too wet. What is it????
Thanks! It looks so similar to other "Geastrum", it must be one. I was amazed that a fungus was evolved enough that it would be able to protect itself from drying out by folding up, and from sogging-up and decomposing by "standing" when it is in a puddle. I dropped it in a bowl of water when it was opened, and the "marshmallow" part floats out of water, (as if on a raft), on the star-like base. Thanks for solving the puzzle of what seemed to me to be an alien life form! arfbark
Hmmm. Thanks for another lead to follow-up on. From the pictures I've seen it could be either Geastrum or astraeum hydrometricus. They're similar looking. I found it here in California if that is another clue. I'm google-searching both now; I hope to find out why the marshmallow part is protected the way it is. I'm still amzazed to discover fungi, that people think of as the lowest of low on the scale of life, are adapted to do more than pop up in some wet place! Thanks again for your suggestion! arfbark
The astraeus photos I found, seem to typically have an irregular pattern to the top of the extended star shape protruding parts. Whereas the images of the geastrum appeared to me smooth on top in most cases. That might be worth looking at for comparison.
:D Next time, take a photo and put it here in the forum! See You Soon Nico (from Genoa, Italy, with rain :( )
