The Geastraceae are a distinctive family of gasteroid basidiomycetes characterised by their star‑forming, earthstar‑type basidiomata. Young fruitbodies are subglobose, with a tough outer peridium enclosing a central spore sac. At maturity the exoperidium splits into several rays, which reflex to expose the endoperidial spore sac. This star‑shaped expansion is the hallmark of the family.

Resent DNA sequencing has shown that most of the names used in New Zealand are incorrect, that is they are northern hemisphere names that have been miss applied to our similar looking yet unnamed natives species.