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Schmidel's starfish is a rare fungus with an unusual shape. It belongs to the Zvezdovikov family and the Basidiomycetes department. The scientific name is Geastrum schmidelii.
What Schmidel's starlet looks like
Schmidel's starman is a representative of saprotrophs. It attracts interest due to its intricate appearance. The average diameter of the fruit is 8 cm. It has a star-shaped shape. In the middle there is a spore-bearing body, from which spongy rays depart.
In the process of growth, a mushroom appears from the ground in the form of a bag. Over time, a hat forms from it, which eventually bursts, breaking up into ends wrapped downward. At the initial stage of development, the color of Schmidel's starlet varies from milky to brown. In the future, the rays darken, and sometimes completely disappear. The color of the spores is brown.
Fruit bodies do not have a pronounced odor
Where and how it grows
Schmidel's starfish lives in mixed and coniferous forests, on the coast of water bodies. It is classified as a wild saprotroph. Mushrooms are found by whole families, which are popularly called "witch's circles". The growth of the mycelium requires coniferous drainage and sandy loam soil, which includes forest humus. The species grows in southern North America and in some European countries. In Russia, it can be found in Eastern Siberia and the Caucasus.
Is the mushroom edible or not
The mushroom is classified as conditionally edible. It is common in alternative medicine. Due to their low nutritional value, they are not used in cooking.
Doubles and their differences
There are several varieties of saprotrophs in nature. Some of them are similar in appearance to Schmidel's starlet.
Vaulted sprocket
The vaulted starlet differs only slightly in appearance. The growth principle of the twin is exactly the same. The rays of the cracked cap look into the ground, which makes the mushroom taller. Adult specimens are dark brown in color and coarse light flesh. The mushroom is eaten only at a young age during the period when the fruit body is partially underground. No heat treatment is required before eating. Refers to conditionally edible.
This type is used as an antiseptic.
Geastrum triple
A distinctive feature of the triple geastrum is a clearly defined courtyard formed at the site of the spore exit. It is similar to Schmidel's starfish only at the stage of opening the hat, and in the future it is greatly modified. The color of the fruit body is bright yellow. Triple Geastrum belongs to the category of inedible mushrooms.
Disputes in the triple geastrum are spherical, warty
Starfish striped
The exoperidium of the twin is divided into 6-9 lobes. Gleb has a light gray tint. A distinctive feature is chaotic cracks on the surface. The neck of the fruiting body has a dense texture and a whitish bloom. Mushroom pulp is not eaten, since the species is inedible.
The twin prefers to populate the area under the ash and oak
Conclusion
Schmidel's starfish is considered one of the most unusual representatives of Basidiomycetes. It attracts professional mushroom pickers with its appearance. But it is undesirable to eat it because of the high risk of developing poisoning.
