vs Tiny Earthstar

Geastrum melanocephalum compared with Geastrum minimum

Key Differences

• is Endangered while Tiny Earthstar is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank		Tiny Earthstar
Kingdom same	Fungi (Fungi)	Fungi (Fungi)
Phylum same	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
Class same	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)	Agaricomycetes (Mushrooms)
Order same	Geastrales (Geastrales)	Geastrales (Geastrales)
Family same	Geastraceae	Geastraceae
Genus same	Geastrum	Geastrum
Species	Geastrum melanocephalum	Geastrum minimum

Evolutionary Relationship

and Tiny Earthstar share a common ancestor at the Genus level: Geastrum.

Conservation Status

EN — Endangered

Tiny Earthstar

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute		Tiny Earthstar
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Habitat

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

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Tiny Earthstar

Habitat

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

Range

Widely distributed across Europe (4 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Geastrum melanocephalum is an earthstar fungus in the family Geastraceae, assessed as Endangered (EN). It produces distinctive star-shaped fruiting bodies with a dark-capped spore sac and is found in stable, undisturbed grassland and woodland edge habitats. Its endangered status reflects sensitivity to habitat disturbance and the decline of traditional land management practices.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway