Geastrum-minimum_6

Description:

Geastrum minimum Schwein., syn.: Geastrum marginatum Vittad.Family: Geastraceae CordaEN: Tiny earthstar, DE: Kleiner Erdstern, ZwergerdsternSlo.: drobcena zvezdicaDat.: Aug. 31. 2021Lat.: 46.37725 Long.: 13.743703Code: Bot_1398/2021_DSC08259Habitat: At the base of a mountain ravine, slightly inclined mountain slope; east aspect; about 30 m distance to river Soa and about 10 m higher; close to a Pinus sp. forest; fine, older colluvial, calcareous deposits partly overgrown (Erica carnea dominant); dry, open, sunny, relatively warm place; exposed to direct rain; average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevation 595 m (1.950 feet), alpine phytogeographical region.Substratum: soil, fine sandy colluvial deposits among larger rocks.Place: Lower Trenta valley, south of village Trenta, right bank of river Soa, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC Comments: This find is the smallest earthstar I've ever found. Based on the number of non-hygroscopic exoperidial rays, persistent mycelial layer, encrusted with debris, very small endoperidial body, which is stalked and provided with an apophysis, whitish crystals on endoperidial body surface and a clearly delimited, rather flat, fibrillose, not furrowed peristome I am pretty sure this is Geastrum minimum. The fungus is a rather rare find in Slovenia.Growing in a group of three sporocarps. Endoperidium diameter; 6, 7 and 9 mm; SP on mass black. Spores verrucose, dark. Dimensions: (3.8) 4.4 - 5.5 (5.6) (3.6) 4.2 - 5.2 (5.7) m; Q = (0.9) 1 - 1.1 (1.2); N = 52; Me = 4.9 4.7 m; Qe = 1. Olympus CH20, NEA 100x/1.25, magnification 1.000 x, oil (spores); NEA 40x/0.65, magnification 400x (capillitium), in water, fresh material. AmScope MA500 digital camera.Ref.: (1) www.funghiitaliani.it/topic/88099-geastrum-minimum/ (last accessed Oct.17. 2021)(2) T. Lsse, J.H. Petersen, Fungi of temperate Europe, Vol. 2., Princeton University Press (2019), p 1249. (3) G.J. Krieglsteiner (Hrsg.), Die Grosspilze Baden-Wrttembergs, Band 2., Ulmer (2000), p 112. (4) www.123pilze.de/DreamHC/Download/KleinerErdstern.htm (last accessed Oct.17. 2021), (5) J.C. Zamora1, F.D. Calonge, M.P. Martn, Integrative taxonomy reveals an unexpected diversity in Geastrum section Geastrum (Geastrales, Basidiomycota), Persoonia 34, 2015: 130165; geastrum_sect_geastrum_1422974412556.pdf, (6) M. Jeppson, R. H. Nilsson, E. Larsson, 2013, European earthstars in Geastraceae (Geastrales, Phallomycetidae) a systematic approach using morphology and molecular sequence data; Systematics and Biodiversity, 11:4, pp 437-465, Natural History Museum, Taylor & Francis Online. (5) S. Buczacki, Collins Fungi Guide, Collins (2012), p 440. (6) D. Arora, Mushrooms Demystified, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley (1986), p 702. (7) W. Rothmaler, Exkursionsflora von Deutschland, Vol.1, Niedere Pflanzen, Elsevier, 3. Auflage, (1994), p 519.