English: Earthstars.
Clades:
Phallomycetes;
Basidiomycota;
Fungi;
Plants.
Members: 8 genera; ± 64 species.
MycologyFungus; gasterocarpic.
Fruiting bodies: hygroscopic, in dry weather they dry and curl up around the soft spore sac, protecting it, often becomes detached from the ground and may roll around like a tumbleweed.; in wetter weather, they moisten and uncurl, some even curl backward lifting the spore sac up, emitting spores when hit by rain or animals.
TaxonomyOlder classifications had placed
Geastraceae in
Lycoperdales, or
Phallales.
containing globs onto nearby surfaces.
Geastrales are related to
Cantharellales.
FamiliesGenera: Geasteroides, Geastrum, Myriostoma, Nidulariopsis, Phialastrum, Radiigera, Schenella, Sphaerobolus.
Geastraceae: Geasteroides, Geastrum, Myriostoma, Nidulariopsis, Phialastrum.
Schenellaceae: Schenella.
Sclerogastraceae: Sclerogaster.
Sphaerobolaceae: Sphaerobolus.