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Giant Hygroscopic Earthstar

Giant Hygroscopic Earthstar (Astraeus pteridis), photo
Photo: Justin Paulin, CC BY 4.0 · iNaturalist
Astraeus pteridis · Family Diplocystidiaceae · Updated October 2026
60US records
4states
Octbusiest month
60 US records since 1899 (37 in the last 10 years)

Last seen Jan 6, 2026 (about 10 months ago) near Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA, photographed by an iNaturalist user, with the ID agreed on by other iNaturalist users (research grade). Most US records come from California, Oregon and Washington, and the busiest months are Oct, Jun and Nov. (Data as of October 26, 2026; records can lag by weeks.)

⚠ Never eat a wild mushroom based on this site. We show where fungi have been recorded, nothing more. We never say any mushroom is edible or safe, and you shouldn't decide that from any website, app or photo. Many deadly mushrooms look like harmless ones. If someone may have eaten a wild mushroom, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away.
Lookalike warning. Many mushrooms, including deadly ones, closely resemble each other, and the only reliable identification comes from an expert looking at the actual specimen (often with spore prints or microscopy). Never use a name, photo or record count on this page to decide what something is.

When it's recorded

Jan6Feb1Mar6Apr3May4Jun7Jul1Aug0Sep4Oct14Nov6Dec5

Records by month, all years. Busiest: Oct, Jun, Nov.

Where it's recorded

StateRecordsLatest sighting
California30Jan 6, 2026
Oregon21Jun 21, 2023
Washington8Nov 4, 2023
Idaho1Sep 23, 1983

Top counties

More on this species from GBIF.

Bring along

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Regional mushroom field guideSee on Amazon
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Folding mushroom knife with brushSee on Amazon
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Wicker foraging basketSee on Amazon
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10x hand lens / loupeSee on Amazon
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Spore print paperSee on Amazon

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