Species map · Astraeus hygrometricus
Barometer earthstar map of Turkey: where and when it grows
Our map holds 15 verified records of the barometer earthstar (Astraeus hygrometricus) from 8 provinces of Turkey. Most come from Muğla, Kırklareli, Manisa and Afyonkarahisar; records peak in January, March and December.
- records
- 15
- provinces
- 8
- regions
- 4
- latest record
- Apr 2026
Records by province
- Aegean 9
- Marmara 4
- Central Anatolia 1
- Mediterranean 1
Linked provinces have their own page with every species recorded there. Record density also reflects where observers work.
Which months?
This page covers only where and when the species is recorded in Turkey. For identification and edibility, see the species page. Built from research-grade, geo-referenced GBIF and iNaturalist records, refreshed at the start of every month.
Poisonous look-alikes of the barometer earthstar
- Common earthball Scleroderma citrinum Poisonous
Records by region: Aegean 9; Marmara 4; Central Anatolia 1; Mediterranean 1. Most records come from Muğla, Kırklareli, Manisa, Afyonkarahisar, Ankara, Antalya, Denizli and İstanbul.
Records peak in January, March and December; about 0% of dated records fall in September–November and 33% in March–May.
The barometer earthstar's fruit body lasts for months, so it can be seen all year; our Turkish records fall between December and April, most of them in January.
On sandy, stony, lime-free and dry soils; it forms partnerships with trees such as pines and oaks. It grows singly or in small groups on path edges, in open woodland and in scrub.
Common earthball (Scleroderma citrinum, poisonous): An unopened barometer earthstar looks like a small hard ball and can be mistaken for the common earthball. The earthball has a yellowish, scaly skin and a purple-black interior when young, and never splits into rays; the earthstar's outer skin eventually opens into a star.
Earthstars (Geastrum spp., inedible): Geastrum earthstars do not close up again when dry, and the mouth of the inner sac is usually neat, pointed or grooved. The barometer earthstar's rays close in dry weather and their inner faces are crazed like a net.
Common puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum, edible): The common puffball never opens into a star; when young it is pure white and soft inside, with small pointed spines on the surface. The young barometer earthstar is hard and its thick outer skin splits into rays.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the barometer earthstar grow in Turkey?
Most records come from Muğla, Kırklareli, Manisa, Afyonkarahisar and Ankara.
When does the barometer earthstar fruit in Turkey?
Records peak in January, March and December.
Which province has the most barometer earthstar records?
Muğla, followed by Kırklareli, Manisa and Afyonkarahisar. The order also reflects where observers are active.
What habitat does the barometer earthstar prefer?
On sandy, stony, lime-free and dry soils; it forms partnerships with trees such as pines and oaks. It grows singly or in small groups on path edges, in open woodland and in scrub.
Can I pick mushrooms where they are recorded?
A record is not a permit. Commercial picking in state forests needs a permit; picking in national parks is prohibited.
How current is this map?
Records are re-fetched from GBIF and iNaturalist at the start of every month and this page updates automatically.
What should I do in case of mushroom poisoning?
Call 112 at once; Turkey's poison centre is 114.
Sources
- 6831 sayılı Orman Kanunu (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
- 2873 sayılı Millî Parklar Kanunu, md. 14 (mevzuat.gov.tr) mevzuat.gov.tr
- GBIF ve iNaturalist: Türkiye gözlem kayıtları (sitemizin haritası) gbif.org
All sources (6)
- Wikipedia (EN): Astraeus hygrometricus en.wikipedia.org
- First Nature: Astraeus hygrometricus first-nature.com
- iNaturalist: Astraeus hygrometricus (Türkçe ad ve Türkiye gözlemleri) inaturalist.org
Data sources and licences
Observations from GBIF.org (human observations and herbarium specimens; records flagged with geospatial issues excluded) and iNaturalist research-grade records, retrieved 2 November 2026. Macrofungi only (Agaricomycetes, Pezizomycetes), named to species. Every point links to its own record, with the recorder and licence (CC0, CC BY, CC BY-NC).
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Province centres: Wikidata. Region comes from the record's GADM province, or the nearest province centre when missing. For protected species (iNaturalist "threatened" or IUCN VU/EN/CR) locations are rounded to ~10 km; locations obscured by iNaturalist are marked "approximate".
An observation shows that a mushroom was seen there on that day, not that it is there now or that it may be picked. Counts reflect how many people record fungi in an area more than how common a species is.
Last updated: Prepared by the Poros Mantar editorial teamReport a correction