Collared earthstar or Arched earthstar

A young mushroom is a round or egg-shaped fruiting body 2-5 cm across, firm, creamy white or ocher-cream, sunk in the litter. When mature, the outer skin splits from the top into 4-8 petal-like rays and folds back, forming a star 5-12 cm across. The rays are fleshy, spread out in damp weather and curling inward in dry weather. In the center is a round spore sac 1-3 cm across, smooth, grayish brown or chocolate gray, with a small round pore on top for releasing spores.

The mature fruiting body has a distinctive shape "mushroom on stilts": the spore sac is raised 5-10 cm above the ground on the arched rays of the outer skin. The outer skin splits into 4 (rarely 5) large rays, which then bend downward and press into the ground, lifting the inner part up. The rays are leathery, dark brown or grayish brown, spread out in damp weather and tucked under in dry weather. Total height of the opened mushroom is 5-15 cm, width at the base 4-8 cm.

The hymenophore is enclosed inside the spore sac (a gasteromycete). At first the flesh is white, soft. With age it turns grayish brown and becomes a powdery mass of spores. When mature, the spores escape through an apical pore — in the rain, drops hit the sac and puff out a cloud of spores.

The hymenophore is enclosed inside the spore sac (a gasteromycete). In a young mushroom the flesh is white, soft. With age it turns grayish brown and becomes a chocolate-brown powdery mass of spores. The spores escape through a small apical pore — as in all earthstars.

There is no stem in the usual sense. In the "star" part, the fleshy middle layer forms a distinctive collar or cup around the base of the spore sac. This collar is the diagnostic feature of G. triplex that sets it apart from other earthstars.

The spore sac has a distinct short "stalk" (pseudostem) about 1 cm tall, sitting on top of the arched rays. The sac itself is round or egg-shaped, 1-3 cm across, smooth, dark gray to chocolate brown.

In a young fruiting body it is white, soft, with a layered structure. With age it shrinks, darkens and turns into a powdery mass of spores. It doesn't change color quickly when cut.

In a young, still-closed fruiting body the flesh is white, soft, with a layered structure. With age it darkens to grayish brown and turns into a powdery mass of spores. It doesn't change color quickly when cut.

Faint, earthy, neutral. Not pronounced. The taste isn't tested — the mushroom is not edible.

Faintly earthy, neutral. Not pronounced. The taste isn't tested — the mushroom is not edible.