At the end of August, more and more mushroom hunters can be found in the wast Latvian forests, so we encourage everyone out searching for autumn treasures to be observant. You might come across this month's protected species – Trichaster melanocephalus.

Trichaster melanocephalus (syn. Geastrum melanocephalum), like other earthstars, resembles a puffball surrounded by a membrane that splits into lobes, giving the fungus its star-like appearance.

This is the largest earthstar species found in Latvia, with a diameter that can reach up to 7-15 cm. After the inner and outer membranes split, the fungus develops 4-6 lobes, and occasionally even 8. It is most commonly found in deciduous and mixed forests with rich soil.

Trichaster melanocephalus is threatened by ecosystem changes and degradation caused by logging and wood extraction.

Research conducted during the LIFE FOR SPECIES project has classified the species as critically endangered, meaning there is a very high risk of extinction in the wild.