| Geastrum jurei | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Phylum: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Geastrales |
| Family: | Geastraceae |
| Genus: | Geastrum |
| Species: | G. jurei |
| Binomial name | |
| Geastrum jurei Lazo |
|
| G. jurei is found in Algarrobo (circle), Valparaíso Province (red), in Chile | |
| Geastrum jurei | |
|---|---|
| Mycological characteristics | |
| glebal hymenium | |
| no distinct cap | |
| spore print is brown | |
| ecology is saprotrophic | |
| edibility: inedible | |
Geastrum jurei is a species of fungus in the Geastrales, or earthstar fungi. It is known only from Algarrobo, in the Valparaíso province of Chile. It is a fornicate species of earthstar, meaning that the tips of the rays press down so as to raise the spherical spore sac into the air.
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Based on the characteristics of the exoperidium (the outer tissue layer of the peridium), Geastrum jurei is classified in the section Perimyceliata Stanek. It is distinguished from other fornicate earthstars: Geastrum smardae and G. welwitschii belong to the section Basimyceliata, G. quadrifidium has a clearly defined peristome (an opening on top of the spore sac) and G. fornicatum has a peristome the same color as the endoperidium. Although the species G. dissimile appeared to be related, Lazo examined the type specimen, and proved it to be different not only by a more sulcate mouth (with deep narrow furrows or grooves) but also by other macroscopic and microscopic characters (e.g., smaller spores with acute spines).[1]
Known from Chile, the species was described in 1972, based on specimens found in Algarrobo, Valparaíso, in 1966. The specific epithet is dedicated to professor Ricardo Jure M.[1]
The exoperidium is 26 mm (1.0 in) wide, 15 mm (0.59 in) high, and split into five broadly acute rays. The outer surface is strongly encrusted with sand and debris; the fibrillose layer is hard, on the outside shining, pale ochraceous, on the inside chestnut. The pseudoparenchymatic layer is thin, dark brown with a violaceous tinge, cracked, especially on the rays, and hard like wood. The pedicel is 2 by 4 mm broad and 2 mm high, compressed, smooth, and cream-colored. The endoperidium (the inner tissue layer of the peridium) is round, 9 mm broad and 8 mm high, depressed, the same color as the pseudoparenchymatic layer, and smooth. The peristome is roughly conical, silky, slightly radially wrinkled (but not sulcate), and very pale grayish-brown. The peristome is indefinite, but due to its color it is well-distinguished from the endoperidium.[1]
The spores are 5–5.5 μm broad, reddish-brown, spherical, with warts that are short and irregular. The capillitium is 5–8 μm in diameter, reddish-brown, thin walled, nonseptate, without any branches.[1]
The fruit bodies of Geastrum jurei grow on sandy soil close to the beach. They have only been reported from Chile.[1]