# Devil's Cigar (*Chorioactis geaster*)

The Devil's Cigar is a unique mushroom that looks like a little cigar! It’s quite rare and has a funny shape that makes it special.

- **Category:** [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/fungi)
- **Rarity:** Epic
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Woodlands and forests
- **Also known as:** Cigar Mushroom, Devil's Cigar Mushroom

![Devil's Cigar](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425711/objects/5146.jpg)

## Appearance

The Devil's Cigar is a striking fungus that starts as a dark, fuzzy cigar-shaped club. It dramatically splits open into a star-like flower shape, revealing a pale to reddish-brown interior. This unique transformation sets it apart visually.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Fungi
- **Phylum:** Ascomycota
- **Class:** Pezizomycetes
- **Order:** Pezizales
- **Family:** Chorioactidaceae
- **Genus:** Chorioactis

## Interesting facts

- It's the only known fungus to make an audible hissing sound when releasing its spores!
- Scientists still don't fully understand the amazing mechanics behind its loud spore puff.
- Sometimes it's called the 'Texas Star fungus' because of its unique look and location!
- This rare fungus is only found in very specific parts of the world, like Texas and Japan.

## Special abilities

- **Explosive Spore Burst:** Devil's Cigar can release its dark brown spores with an audible puff or hiss, helping them spread far and wide.
- **Shape-Shifting Star:** Devil's Cigar has a tough, leathery outer layer that splits open into a star shape, protecting its inner spore mass.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 5-15 cm
- **Edible:** inedible
- **Size:** 10-30 cm
- **Growth Substrate:** wood
- **Season:** Fall and winter
- **Spore Color:** Dark brown

## Ecological connections

- **Depends on:** Live Oak (*Quercus virginiana*) — Grows on dead or decaying logs of this tree species.
- **Depends on:** Giant Stag Beetle (*Lucanus elaphus*) — Its larvae feed on decaying wood, sharing the fungus's habitat.
- **Eats:** Hairy Fungus Beetle (*Typhaea stercorea*) — Feeds on various fungi found on decaying wood.

## Traits

- [Night Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/night-blooming): Night blooming plants open their flowers after sunset, often to attract nocturnal pollinators with their scent and appearance.
- [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions.

## Collections

- [Fungi](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/fungi)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Do not pick or eat anything you find. Some plants and mushrooms can be harmful.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Devil's Cigar?

Compare the cap shape, the underside, the stem and base, and whether the fungus grows on wood or soil. Some fungi have gills, others pores or teeth. A cap seen only from above often hides the most useful features. Mushroom Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Devil's Cigar?

5-15 cm

### Is Devil's Cigar edible?

inedible

### How big is Devil's Cigar?

10-30 cm

### Where is Devil's Cigar usually found?

Woodlands and forests

### What does Devil's Cigar grow on?

wood

### When is Devil's Cigar in season?

Fall and winter

### What color are Devil's Cigar spores?

Dark brown

## More Fungi

- [Field Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/field-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Button Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/button-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Portobello Mushroom](https://www.snappit.app/explore/portobello-mushroom) (*Agaricus*)
- [Shiitake](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shiitake) (*Lentinula*)

---

Source: [Devil's Cigar: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/devil-s-cigar)