Definition

1. Noun:
   • A common name for a fungus: "devil's cigar" is the popular name for a rare, distinctive species of fungus, scientifically classified in the family Sarcosomataceae. It is known for its unique appearance, resembling a dark, cigar-shaped pod that splits open into a star shape to release its spores.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The hiker was excited to find a devil's cigar growing on the decaying log.
  • Due to its rarity, the devil's cigar is a prized find for mycologists.

Advanced Usage

• As a subject of scientific study: The term is used in mycology (the study of fungi) to refer specifically to (formerly ), which is the primary species known by this common name.
  • The life cycle of the devil's cigar is not fully understood.

Variants and Related Words

• Scientific name: .
• Other common names: Texas star, star-shaped fungus.
• Sarcosomataceae: (n) The biological family to which this fungus belongs.

Synonyms

• Fungus: A general term for organisms like mushrooms, molds, and yeasts.
• Ascomycete: (n) A technical term for a fungus that produces spores in a sac-like structure (an ascus), which includes the devil's cigar.

Notes on Meaning

• The term "devil's cigar" refers exclusively to this specific, visually striking fungus. It is not a general term for any cigar-shaped object and carries no inherent idiomatic or metaphorical meaning outside of its biological reference. Its name is derived purely from its physical resemblance to a cigar and its dramatic spore-release mechanism.

Noun

1. a common name for a variety of Sarcosomataceae