Elegant Earthstar
EN

Elegant Earthstar

Geastrum elegans

Unknown

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geastrum_elegans

Overview

Geastrum elegans is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus Geastrum, or earthstar fungi.

Geastrum elegans faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from deforestation and agricultural conversion of its specialized forest ecosystems. The species is particularly vulnerable because of its narrow ecological requirements and limited dispersal ability, making populations highly susceptible to fragmentation and local extinctions.

Threat summary

Habitat

TERRESTRIAL· major

Other threatened species in Geastraceae

Geastrum melanocephalumEN

Geastrum melanocephalum

Unknown
CR

Geastrum flexuosum

Unknown
Field EarthstarVU

Field Earthstar

Geastrum campestre

Unknown
Rosy EarthstarEN

Rosy Earthstar

Geastrum rufescens

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Elegant Earthstar classified as Endangered?
Elegant Earthstar is classified as Endangered — facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild — because population numbers are declining steeply and key habitats are under sustained pressure. Geastrum elegans faces severe population declines primarily due to habitat loss from deforestation and agricultural conversion of its specialized forest ecosystems. The species is particularly vulnerable because of its narrow ecological requirements and limited dispersal ability, making populations highly susceptible to fragmentation and local extinctions.
Where does Elegant Earthstar live?
Elegant Earthstar occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Elegant Earthstar?
The main threats to Elegant Earthstar are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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