Abstract
Inventory in different locations of the Western Ghats and west coast of India during 2011–2013 yielded six species of geasters (<em>Geastrum fimbriatum</em>, <em>G. lageniforme</em>, <em>G. pseudostriatum</em>, <em>G. saccatum</em>, <em>G. schweinitzii</em> and <em>G. triplex</em>). Based on fresh basidiomata, illustrations of geasters are presented with macroscopic and microscopic observations. Fruit bodies of <em>G. lageniforme</em> were gregarious and abundant followed by <em>G. triplex</em>, while <em>G. pseudostriatum</em> were rare and solitary. Among the geasters, <em>G. triplex</em> was ectomycorrhizal with native tree <em>Terminalia paniculata</em> of the west coast. <em>Geastrum fimbriatum</em>, <em>G. pseudostriatum</em> and <em>G. schweinitzii</em> constitute the first record for the Western Ghats of India. Distribution, substrate preference, ectomycorrhizal features, economic value and conservation of geasters are discussed.
Highlights
Geastrum is a cosmopolitan genus among the gasteroid fungi possessing enclosed hymenophore and commonly known as earthstars as exoperidium dehisce like star [1,2]
G. triplex was ectomycorrhizal with native tree species (Terminalia paniculata) of the west coast
Geastrum saccatum was recorded on the decaying logs in Western Ghat region of Kerala [32] and it was found in the urban locations of southern India [35]
Summary
Geastrum (phylum: Basidiomycota; order: Geasterales; family: Geastraceae) is a cosmopolitan genus among the gasteroid fungi possessing enclosed hymenophore and commonly known as earthstars as exoperidium dehisce like star [1,2]. The genus Geastrum was erected by Persoon [3] with G. coronatum as type species. This genus has been generally characterized by pointed globose or sub-globose puffball with four-layered peridium buried in litter or soil or humus strata without stipe and pileus consisting of brown globose or sub-globose spores with verrucose or echinulate surface. The systematics of the genus Geastrum has been revisited using morphological, chemical and molecular phylogenetic approaches [8,9,10,11]
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