Forrest Mims Talks “Texas Star” Fungus
Chorioactis geaster in Texas (Tim Jones)
Chorioactis geaster is a rare gasteromycete apparently found in only Texas and Japan (go figure). Forrest Mims is a Texas-based science writer interested in this unusual fungus and his article Texas Star fungus a rare, wonderful sight provides an update.
In 1998, my wife Minnie saw one of the rarest sights in all of Texas when she saw a white plume that resembled smoke jetting from our back yard on a cool November morning. When we investigated, we found a beautiful star-shaped fungus where the plume had originated. We had no idea what the fungus was named, but Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine answered the question. The magazine had arrived only a few days before, and it included an article about the devil’s cigar (or Texas star) and photographs of fungi identical to ours.
More on Chorioactis geaster:
Chorioactis geaster at Wikipedia
How rare is the devil’s cigar?
And Mims has posted a very short video of the fungus…
Tags: Chorioactis geaster, Forrest Mims, Japan, Texas
I was surprised to find the Texas Star Fungus here in my yard at cedar creek, bastrop county, tx. I have two separate patches with four or five in each cluster and one standing alone. Since the photos I took yesterday evening one has opened and the single by itself is gone. There is one more “cigar” showing. The one which subsequently opened was showing a parting in the center at the time of the photograph.
Thanks for the attribution! Chorioactis geaster has been found
in Hays County too. See groundtruthinvestigations.com and
Wikipedia.