Earthstar
Collared Earthstar Geastrum triplex
Besides Puffballs and Morels this Earthstar is the first mushroom I’ve identified. It looks quite distinctive so it wasn’t that hard. On the other hand it will probably remain the last mushroom I do identify. I can’t believe how difficult it is to tell one fruiting fungus body from the next.
Collared Earthstars are not recommended to eat. I wouldn’t eat one even if they were. Fungi belong between my toes not between my lips 
Well maybe not after all. I’d hate to take off my socks and find this growing.
I have no idea what this is. Well just keep it a fungus amoung us if you don’t mind.
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September 10th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Fantastic shots. That first one is so interesting. I have to agree about not eating them.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
The earthstar looks a lot like a little alien with a great big belly button!
September 11th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
I did a post on ‘shrooms a few days back. We had a nice bit of rain and while walking in the woods, I came upon some really weird looking ones. Your first one really looks like some sort of alien craft.
BTW, thanks for the little swinging gnome. I love it!
October 26th, 2010 at 7:31 am
I realise I’m very late to this party, but since you made it so easy to comment:
The Earthstar picture is lovely, I find this species of earthstar only and very infrequently in Leeds though I know a spot they can be found reliably.
I find a similar fungus to your second one quite often which is the Powdery Brittlegill, Russula parazurea but the identification of many Russulas are best confirmed with a microscope.
Thanks for the photos, found while surfing (the web!).