Elegant Earthstar vs Rounded Earthstar

Geastrum elegans compared with Geastrum saccatum

Key Differences

• Elegant Earthstar is Critically Endangered while Rounded Earthstar is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Elegant Earthstar	Rounded 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 elegans	Geastrum saccatum

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

Elegant Earthstar

CR — Critically Endangered

Rounded Earthstar

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Elegant Earthstar	Rounded Earthstar
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Elegant Earthstar

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas, among 5 distinct biome types within the Neotropic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

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

Rounded 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). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇧🇷 Brazil 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden