Plants superficial, ovate, pointed, becoming expanded when 2-12 cm. across. Exoperidium split to about the middle into 5-8 equal, narrowly acuminate expanded rays; fleshy layer umber, rimose, frequently partially flaking away, sometimes with a small portion persisting as a collar around the base of the endoperidium; exterior free from debris, bay brown or tan coloured, glabrous, usually marked with numerous longitudinal striae; base plane, with a prominent umbilical scar. Endoperidium sessile, 0.5-2.5 cm. diameter, depressed globose, or almost pulvinate, bay brown or umber, glabrous, finely pitted or smooth, membranous. Peristome fibrillose, mammose, seated on a broad, depressed, silky, pallid zone which is usually outlined by an upraised margin. Gleba ferruginous or umber; pseudo-columella clavate or indistinct. Spores globose, 4-5.5um diameter, epispore almost black, 0.75um thick, closely covered with lighter coloured or hyaline, irregularly shaped prominent verrucose. The species is characterized by the acuminate apices of the expanded rays, glabrous usually striate exterior of the exoperidium with the base marked by a prominent umbilical scar, and spores 4-5 um diameter. Typical specimens have the fibrillose peristome enclosed by a large depressed silky zone. In small plants the peristome characters resemble those of G.saccatum, when separation may be affected by the dark, more coarsely verrucose and larger spores.

DISTRIBUTION: Britain; Europe; North and South America; India; Australia; Tasmania; New Zealand. New South Wales: Milson Island, Hawkesbury River, det. by Lloyd as G.triplex ; Terrigal; Neutral Bay, Sydney; Dorrigo ; Baradine ; National Park; Kosciusko (1). Victoria: Smedley Park, Melbourne ( 9 ) ; Cockatoo; Botanic Gardens, Melbourne; Creswick; Myperfeld National Reserve (4). South Australia: Overland Corner (1). Western Australia: Claremont (8). Tasmania: Hobart (3). New Zealand: Wellington—Weraroa, det. by Lloyd as Geaster englerianus; Same Locality, two collections; Whakatikei Forest Reserve; Tararua Ranges ; Manawatu Gorge. Otago—Dunedin ; Catlins ; Puerua ; Whisky Gully, Tapanui. (2).

TYPE LOCALITY: Java; East Indies.