Geastrum quadrifidum, commonly known as the rayed earthstar, is an inedible species of mushroom belonging to the genus Geastrum, the earthstar fungi. First described by Christian Hendrik Persoon in 1794, it is a cosmopolitan but uncommon species found in Europe, the Americas, Africa, Asia, and Australasia. The fungus feeds off decomposing organic matter in the litter and soil of coniferous forests. The small, grayish- brown fruit bodies are enclosed by a skin, or peridium, made up of four layers of tissue. The outer layer splits to form star-like rays and expose a spore case, inside of which is the gleba—fertile spore- producing tissue. The spore case, set on a short, slender stalk, has a well-defined narrow pore at the top through which mature spores escape. The mushroom's outer skin is purplish-brown, with four or five cream or yellowish-brown rays whose tips are stuck in the substrate. This species is one of several earthstars whose rays arch downward as they mature, lifting the spore sac upward and allowing it to catch air currents that disseminate the spores.

Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geastrum_quadrifidum

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1598:

Admiral Yi Sun-sin's Korean navy defeated the Japanese fleet at the Battle of Noryang, the final naval battle of the Imjin War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Noryang

1653:

Oliver Cromwell became Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Cromwell

1918:

Vincas Mickevičius-Kapsukas declared the formation of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic, a puppet state created by Soviet Russia to justify the Lithuanian–Soviet War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuanian_Soviet_Socialist_Republic_(1918%E2%80%9319)

1930:

Herman Lamm, "the father of modern bank robbery", killed himself during a botched robbery attempt in Clinton, Indiana, US, rather than be captured by police. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Lamm

2012:

A woman in New Delhi was gang-raped on a bus, generating public protests across the country against the Government of India and the Government of Delhi for not providing adequate security for women. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Delhi_gang_rape

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

gafiate: (dated, fandom slang, science fiction) To leave the mundane world and enter the science fiction fandom community. […] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gafiate

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

It seems to me very important to continue to distinguish between two evils. It may be necessary temporarily to accept a lesser evil, but one must never label a necessary evil as good.   --Margaret Mead https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Margaret_Mead