| Major Groups > Puffballs > Myriostoma coliforme |
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[ Basidiomycota > Geastrales > Geastraceae > Myriostoma . . . ] Myriostoma coliforme by Michael Kuo, 9 September 2025 This infrequently encountered, interesting earthstar differs from species of Geastrum and Astraeus in developing multiple perforations across the surface of its spore case, rather than a single perforation at the top. Additionally, Myriostoma coliforme has a spore case that sits atop a series of small columns, best seen by turning the earthstar upside down and bending back the star's rays. Although it is a fairly rare fungus, it is apparently "locally common" in some European and North American areas. Thanks to Melissa Goodell for collecting, documenting, and preserving Myriostoma coliforme for study; her collection is deposited in The Herbarium of Michael Kuo. Description: Ecology: Saprobic; growing gregariously in sandy soil in open places, but often near trees; spring through fall, but dried-out specimens are sometimes encountered over winter, especially in warm climates; originally described from Great Britain (Dickson 1785); widely distributed in Europe and North America; also recorded from Hawaii (records from elsewhere probably represent other Myriostoma species). The illustrated and described collection is from Michigan. Fruiting Body: At first a round to egg-shaped ball, partially submerged in the substrate; with maturity the outer skin peeling back to form 6–12 pale brown, radiating, pointed arms stretching 6–12 cm across, composed of flesh 2–4 mm thick; undersides of arms darker brown and cracked-scaly; spore case 3–7 cm across, brownish to grayish, roughened or nearly smooth, developing 10– round perforations, sitting atop a series of pale brown basal columns; interior of spore case brown, soon powdery. Microscopic Features: Spores 4–8 µm including ornamentation of moderately dense spines 0.5–1.5 µm long, with bases 0.5 µm thick; globose; brownish yellow in KOH. Capillitial threads 2–5 µm wide; with occasional single, short, digitate projections; walls roughened or very finely spiny, 1 µm thick; brown-walled in KOH. REFERENCES: (J. J. Dickson) A. K. J. Corda, 1842. (Lloyd, 1901; Coker & Couch, 1928; Smith, 1951; Dring & Rayner, 1967; Ponce de Leon, 1968; Geesteranus, 1971; Phillips, 1981; Smith, Smith & Weber, 1981; Smith & Ponce de Leon, 1982; Arora, 1986; Lincoff, 1992; Kruger et al., 2001; Hemmes & Desjardin, 2002; Bates, 2004; Calonge et al., 2004; Hosaka et al., 2006; Miller & Miller, 2006; della Maggiora, 2010; Hemmes & Desjardin, 2011; Buczacki et al., 2012; Jeppson et al., 2013; Zamora et al., 2014; Cripps, Evenson & Kuo, 2016; Kibby, 2017; Sousa et al., 2017; Elliott & Stephenson, 2018; Sunhede, 2018; Læssøe & Petersen, 2019.) Herb. Kuo 08102501. This website contains no information about the edibility or toxicity of mushrooms. |
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Cite this page as: Kuo, M. (2025, September). Myriostoma coliforme. Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.Com Web site: /myriostoma_coliforme.html |