Geastrum britannicum is a fungal species in the family Geastraceae. Its recommended English name is vaulted earthstar.[1] Like other earthstars, the basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are initially globose. Their thick outer skin splits open at maturity to expose the puffball-like spore sac surrounded by the split rays of the outer skin. In the vaulted earthstar, the rays split apart and form an arch, raising the spore sac upwards.
| Geastrum britannicum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Geastrales |
| Family: | Geastraceae |
| Genus: | Geastrum |
| Species: | G. britannicum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Geastrum britannicum J.C. Zamora (2015)
| |
Taxonomy
editGeastrum britannicum was described in 2015 from England by Spanish mycologist Juan Carlos Zamora,[2] based on a holotype found on a roadside verge in Cockley Cley under pine trees in 2000 by Jonathan Revett,[3] with paratypes from New Milton and Surlingham.[2] The species was already the subject of research at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, where more than a dozen additional collections had been studied from England and Wales, the earliest dating back to 1994.[4] The new species had previously been confused with G. quadrifidum and G. fornicatum, both of which have a similar vaulted or arched appearance.[4] Geastrum britannicum was distinguished on the basis of morphology and DNA sequence analysis.[2][4]
Distribution
editThe fungus has proved to be very widespread in England and Wales.[4] It was more recently found in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.[5] Since the species is not known to have occurred in Europe before 1994, it may be a recent arrival.[4][5]
References
edit- ^ Holden L. "English names for fungi". British Mycological Society. Retrieved 2022-09-24.
- ^ a b c J.C. Zamora; F.D. Calonge; M.P. Martín (2015). "Integrative taxonomy reveals an unexpected diversity in Geastrum section Geastrum (Geastrales, Basidiomycota)". Persoonia. 34: 130–165. doi:10.3767/003158515X687443. PMC 4510276. PMID 26240450.
- ^ Dan Hyde (29 March 2015). "New mushroom species found in Norfolk (don't eat it)". The Telegraph. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
- ^ a b c d e Spooner B, Henrici A, Ainsworth AM (2015). "Geastrum britannicum - a surprisingly common new species in Britain". Field Mycology. 16 (2): 54–57. doi:10.1016/j.fldmyc.2015.04.007.
- ^ a b Dvořák D (2022). "Geastrum britannicum – a new species of the Czech mycobiota". Mykologické Listy (151): 29‒34.