Geastrum hirsutum: a new earthstar fungus with a hairy exoperidium

摘要

Geastrum hirsutum was found growing on decaying wood on an abandoned termites nest in Atlantic rainforest. This rare species is easily recognized by its small and caespitose basidiome with a very hirsute exoperidium. Historically, the Geastrum has been placed in the Lycoperdales. Recently, however, molecular data have prompted a great modification in the systematics of the gasteromycetes that has led to the transfer of this genus to the Phallales (Hibbett et al. 1997). Despite several previous publications (Rick 1961, Bononi et al. 1984, Kimbrough et al. 1995, Baseia & Milanez 2002, Baseia et al. 2003, Sobestiansky 2005), Geastrum is still not well known Brazil.