This starlike structure is a young root system of Voyria tenella (Gentianaceae). From a single growth pole, in a very dense sequence, young roots emerge. Only when enough root tissue has grown, a first shoot axis develops from the little root system. The structure on this picture is not bigger than a third or fourth of your little fingers nail.
More information on the ontogeny, morphology and ecology of V. tenella can be read after in Imhof et al. (1994). The aberrant mycorrhizal pattern of this species has been published in Imhof (1997). More pictures can been visited here.

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Last revised on 3rd of December 2002 by Stephan Imhof, Email: imhof@staff.uni-marburg.de

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