Extract from Wikipedia article: Chorioactis is a genus of fungi that contains the single species Chorioactis geaster. The mushroom is commonly known as the devil's cigar or the Texas star in the United States, while in Japan it is called kirinomitake (キリノミタケ). This extremely rare mushroom is notable for its unusual appearance and disjunct distribution; it is found only in select locales in Texas and Japan. The fruit body, which grows on the stumps or dead roots of cedar elms (in Texas) or dead oaks (in Japan), somewhat resembles a dark brown or black cigar before it splits open radially into a starlike arrangement of four to seven leathery rays. The interior surface of the fruit body bears the spore-bearing tissue known as the hymenium, and is colored white to brown, depending on its age. The fruit body opening can be accompanied by a distinct hissing sound and the release of a smoky cloud of spores.
Malformed devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) on a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) on rotting wood on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) near a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Side view of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Cedar elm stump with devil's cigar fungus (Texas Star, Chorioactis geaster) on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Opened body of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Close-up of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Taking pictures of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) around a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Half-opened devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Side view of half-opened devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Some white mold growing on mature bodies of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster)(?) on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Young stage of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Egg stage of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Opening egg of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Upper view of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Side view of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) near a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Opening stage of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) near a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Recently opened devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) near a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Closed body of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) near a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Splitting body of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) near a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Star-like arrangement of leathery rays of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) near a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Old cedar elm stump with devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) emitting spores on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Wide opened body of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) near a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Mature and young bodies of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) near a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Leathery rays of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) near a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Submerged brown egg of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) near a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Partially split and malformed egg of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) near a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Velvety brown egg of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) near a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Brown egg of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) in litter near a cedar elm stump on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States
Close-up of velvety brown egg of devil's cigar fungus (Chorioactis geaster) on Copperfield Nature Trail. Austin, Texas, December 4, 2021 Copperfield Nature Trail, Four Seasons, Austin, Travis County, Texas, 78753, United States