Summary: From the Northern reaches of the Llano Estacado in Eastern New Mexico to the Big Bend Borderlands of Texas, this is Nature Notes. Earthstars - the Latin name is Astraeus hygrometricus) are fungi, a close relation to puffballs. Most people have seen puffballs - irregularly shaped ball-like mushrooms that are just dry spore sacks that make a satisfying "pop" when stepped on. From Marfa Public Radio, in cooperation with the Sibley Nature Center in Midland, Texas, this is Nature Notes. Hello, I’m Dallas Baxter. Earthstars have an outside covering to their puffball that opens and reveals the puffball as it grows. The outer covering splits into a leathery star around the 50-cent sized w...
