52 



Marvels of the Universe 



STARS OF THE EARTH 



BY EDWARD STEP, F.L.S. 



The Earth-Stars are a group of fungi allied to the puff-balls ; but whereas the puff-balls are tolerably 



common and, therefore, well-known, the Earth-stars are comparatively rare and consequently 



little-known. In their earlier condition they might 



r< '. ■'••.' )?>i"^50i^;' I easily be mistaken for httle puff-balls if they happened 



to be seen, but in this stage they are usually buried 

 just under the surface of the soil. Getting to their 

 full size, they push the soil aside and come into 

 view. Then the outer layer splits from the apex 

 into several pointed segments which turn away from 

 the centre and give the whole plant a star-like ap- 

 pearance. In the centre of the star there stands a 

 more or less globular body which, if cut through 

 early, will be found to be of the consistence of crumb 

 of bread, but later it breaks up into soft cobwebby 

 threads, and amidst these are millions of the micro- 

 scopic spores by which the plant is propagated. To 

 set these free an opening appears at the summit of 

 the globular body, or spore sac, and imperceptible 

 changes of temperatui-e will so affect the walls of 

 the sac that many of the spores will issue from time 

 to time in the form of a tiny puff of thin smoke. 

 Even the temperature of the hand when examining 

 one of these Earth-stars is sufficient to cause a de- 

 monstration of this. 



When the atmosphere is charged with moisture,, 

 the segments of the star rapidly absorb it, and by 

 their expansion turn outwards and downwards, their 

 tips often pressing upon the earth with such power 

 that they force up the centre, and detach its con- 

 nection with the soil. In consequence of this action 

 the plant is often caught by the wind and sent 

 bowling along for some distance, scattering its spores 

 as it goes. 



There are a number of different species of Earth- 

 stars, of which no fewer than a dozen are found 

 from time to time in this country, but they are all 

 very similar in character to those of which we give 

 illustrations. One of these, however, will be seen 

 to differ from our description in the fact that the 

 spore-sac is smaller and is borne upon a stalk. 

 This particular species is known as Bryant's Earth- 

 star, and there are several others that share this 



[_E. Slejf^ F.L.S. 



COMMON EARTH-STAR. possession of a stalked spore-sac. The opening of 



The round body in the centre of the star con- ^]jq sporc-sac in Bryaut's Earth-star Is devclopcd 



tains a powder like snuff, which consists of millions T,.,n,i i 1-1.1 ,1,1 



of microscopic spores. into SL distmct fluted uozzle, whilst beneath the sac 



COMMON EARTH-STAR. 



The outer coat splits into triangular lobes, which 

 give the starry appearance to it when they have 

 turned outward. 



Pholoi hl/\ 



