About this fungus
Rosy Earthstar is a fungus in the Geastraceae family. Its habitat and field characteristics are summarised below.
A fairly large earthstar with thick fleshy rays that develop rosy, pink-red or reddish-brown colours as they open and age.
What to check
Confirm thick non-hygroscopic rays that bruise or mature rosy-red, a pale to brown spore sac sitting directly or nearly directly on the rays, and a fibrous mouth without a sharply bounded disc. There are no gills, ring or volva.
Lookalikes
Other earthstars may become brown but lack the characteristic rosy flesh. Geastrum coronatum and related species can overlap and may require examination of the mouth, sac surface and spores. Colour alone is not sufficient on old specimens.
Habitat and range
Saprotrophic on woodland soil and litter beneath broadleaved trees or conifers, sometimes near old stumps. It occurs across Europe, Asia and North America but is unevenly distributed.
Food safety
Inedible.