{{Short description|Species of fungus}} {{Speciesbox | image = Geastrum minimum 111569.jpg | image_caption = | genus = Geastrum | species = minimum | authority = Schwein. (1822)<ref name="Schweinitz 1822"/> | synonyms_ref = <ref name="urlMycoBank: Geastrum minimum"/> | synonyms = ''Geastrum cesatii'' <small>Rabenh. (1851)</small> }}

'''''Geastrum minimum''''', the '''tiny earthstar''', is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus ''Geastrum''. Although rare, it is widespread in Europe, where it occurs in a range of habitats.<ref name="Pegler 1995"/> It is a priority species in the UK, where it has been found in the sand dunes at Holkham National Nature Reserve.<ref name="Telfer 2000"/><ref name = jncc/>

The species was first described by Lewis David de Schweinitz in 1822.<ref name="urlMycoBank: Geastrum minimum"/>

==Description== Fruit bodies are initially roughly spherical before the outer peridium splits to form a star with 6–11 "rays". When opened, the diameter of the fruit body is {{convert|1|–|3|cm|frac=4}}. The inner spore sac is spherical or egg-shaped, and measures {{convert|0.5|–|1|cm|abbr=on|frac=4}}. The more-or-less round spores measure 5–5.5–4–4.5&nbsp;μm and have warts on their surface.<ref name="Ellis 1990"/>

==References== {{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="Ellis 1990">{{cite book |author1=Ellis, J B |author2=Ellis, M B |title=Fungi without Gills (Hymenomycetes and Gasteromycetes): An Identification Handbook |publisher=Chapman and Hall |location=London, UK |year=1990 |page=229 |isbn=0-412-36970-2}}</ref>

<ref name = jncc>{{cite web |title=UK Priority Species data collation ''Geastrum minimum'' |url=http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/_speciespages/2287.pdf |publisher=JNCC |access-date=17 September 2012}}</ref>

<ref name="Pegler 1995">{{cite book |author1=Laessoe, T |author2=Pegler, D N |author3=Spooner, B |title=British Puffballs, Earthstars and Stinkhorns: An Account of the British Gasteroid Fungi |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens |location=Kew, UK |year=1995 |page=100 |isbn=0-947643-81-8}}</ref>

<ref name="Schweinitz 1822">{{cite journal |author1=von Schweinitz |author2=Lewis David |title=Synopsis fungorum Carolinae superioris |journal=Schriften der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Leipzig |year=1822 |volume=1 |pages=20–131 (see p. 58) |language=German}}</ref>

<ref name="Telfer 2000">{{cite journal |last=Telfer |first=Mark G |author2=Lambdon, Philip W |author3=Gurney, Mark |year=2000 |title=Recent discoveries among the gasteroid fungi of Norfolk |journal=Field Mycology |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=30–32 |doi=10.1016/S1468-1641(10)60011-4|doi-access=free }}</ref>

<ref name="urlMycoBank: Geastrum minimum">{{cite web |title=''Geastrum minimum'' Schwein. 1822 |url=http://www.mycobank.org/BioloMICS.aspx?Table=Mycobank&Rec=121580&Fields=All |publisher=MycoBank. International Mycological Association |access-date=17 September 2012}}</ref>

}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q5529524}}

minimum Category:Fungi described in 1822 Category:Fungi of Europe Category:Inedible fungi Category:Taxa named by Lewis David de Schweinitz Category:Fungus species

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