Field Earthstar vs Globe Thistle

Geastrum campestre compared with Echinops exaltatus

Key Differences

• Field Earthstar is Critically Endangered while Globe Thistle is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Field Earthstar	Globe Thistle
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Chordata (Chordates)
Class	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Mammalia (Mammals)
Order	Geastrales (Geastrales)	Afrosoricida (Afrosoricida)
Family	Geastraceae	Tenrecidae
Genus	Geastrum	Echinops
Species	Geastrum campestre	Echinops exaltatus

Conservation Status

Field Earthstar

CR — Critically Endangered

Globe Thistle

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Field Earthstar	Globe Thistle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Field Earthstar

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Globe Thistle

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Found across Europe (13 countries) and North America (Canada, United States).

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇬🇧 United Kingdom