Collared Earthstar vs Common corncockle

Geastrum triplex compared with Agrostemma githago

Key Differences

• Collared Earthstar is Near Threatened while Common corncockle is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Collared Earthstar	Common corncockle
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Geastrales (Geastrales)	Caryophyllales (Caryophyllales)
Family	Geastraceae	Caryophyllaceae
Genus	Geastrum	Agrostemma
Species	Geastrum triplex	Agrostemma githago

Conservation Status

Collared Earthstar

NT — Near Threatened

Common corncockle

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Collared Earthstar	Common corncockle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Collared Earthstar

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Brazil, Norway, and United States. Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Common corncockle

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including montane grasslands and shrublands, tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, and temperate coniferous forests, among 13 distinct biome types. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (Lesotho), Asia (7 countries), Europe (24 countries), North America (Canada, Mexico, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Brazil, Chile). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Collared Earthstar

<em>Geastrum triplex</em>, the Collared Earthstar, is a gasteroid fungus in the family Geastraceae, order Geastrales. This species is assessed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it may be at risk of qualifying for a threatened category in the near future. It has been recorded in Belgium, Brazil, Norway, and the United States, and is associated with forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil. Earthstars in the genus <em>Geastrum</em> are recognized by their distinctive star-shaped fruiting bodies, formed when the outer wall splits and folds back into ray-like segments to reveal an inner spore sac. <em>Geastrum triplex</em> is distinguished by the formation of a collar or cup-like structure around the base of the inner spore sac, which gives rise to its common name. Like other gasteroid fungi, it disperses spores through an apical pore in the spore sac. Population estimates and trend data are not available. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature. Its Near Threatened status may reflect sensitivity to habitat disturbance and forest management practices.

Common corncockle

<em>Agrostemma githago</em>, commonly known as common corncockle, is an annual flowering plant in the family Caryophyllaceae. Once a widespread weed of cereal crops across Europe, Asia, and beyond, this species is now Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to the dramatic decline caused by modern agricultural practices, particularly improved grain cleaning and herbicide use. Corncockle is a tall, slender plant covered in silky white hairs, bearing large, solitary pink to purple flowers with distinctive dark veining. Its seeds contain toxic saponin compounds called githagins, which historically contaminated grain supplies. The species now survives primarily in wildflower conservation areas, seed banks, and traditional farmland conservation schemes. It typically grows in open, disturbed arable soils with full sun exposure. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇷 Brazil 🇳🇴 Norway 🇺🇸 United States