''Geastrum rufescens'', commonly known as the rosy earthstar,
is a species of
fungus
A fungus (plural, : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of Eukaryote, eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and Mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified ...
in the family
Geastraceae
Geastrales is an order of gasterocarpic basidiomycetes (fungi) that are related to Cantharellales. The order contains the single family Geastraceae, commonly known as "earthstars", which older classifications had placed in Lycoperdales, or ...
. It was first
described scientifically by
Christian Hendrik Persoon
Christiaan Hendrik Persoon (1 February 1761 – 16 November 1836) was a German mycologist who made additions to Linnaeus' mushroom taxonomy.
Early life
Persoon was born in South Africa at the Cape of Good Hope, the third child of an i ...
in 1801. It has a pale pinkish-buff to pinkish
exoperidium and rays. The earthstar is found in Europe, North America (including Mexico), and Japan, where it typically grows at the base of old
oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...
stumps.
References
rufescens
Inedible fungi
Fungi described in 1801
Fungi of Asia
Fungi of Europe
Fungi of North America
Taxa named by Christiaan Hendrik Persoon
{{Geastrales-stub