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SAN MARCOS PUBLIC LIBRARY
625 E. HOPKINS ST.
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Q. Is there really a Texas State Mushroom? What other interesting symbols and icons does Texas have?
A. Yes, there really is a Texas State Mushroom. The 87th Legislature passed House Concurrent Resolution 61 (SCR 61) which named the Texas Star Mushroom, known scientifically as Chorioactis geaster, as the Texas State Mushroom. Gov. Greg Abbott signed SCR 61 on June 18, 2021. Texas is one of only three states with an official state mushroom.
The Texas Star Mushroom’s concurrent resolution, introduced in the Texas House by Rep. Ben Leman, is an extremely rare mushroom. According to the bill analysis from the Senate Research Center, the mushroom was first collected in Austin in 1893 and is nearly exclusive to Texas. The only other place in the world with a notable population is Japan. The report goes on to say:
“The Texas star appears in winter, most commonly on the exposed roots and decaying stumps of cedar elm trees. It emerges as a dark brown capsule about four inches in length, which inspired its nickname, the devil's cigar.”
After rains, the mushroom explodes open with an audible hiss, seemingly puffing smoke as it fills the air with a cloud of spores that waft away to help ensure a future generation for the species. In addition to its other memorable traits, the mushroom, once opened, has a starlike shape that makes it seem custom designed for the Lone Star landscape.
A poignant reminder of the natural diversity that surrounds us, the Texas star mushroom is as uncommon and striking as the state that serves as its home, and it is indeed deserving of special recognition.
NOTE: In case you come across this mushroom, it is NOT for human consumption.
The Texas Star Mushroom is not the only “interesting” symbol. Some symbols are well known, like the bluebonnet as the State Flower and the pecan tree as the State Tree, but some are lesser known. For example, the Texas Almanac (from the Texas State Historical Association) lists the State Air Force as the Commemorative Air Force (formerly known as the Confederate Air Force). The Commemorative Air force is based in Midland at Midland International Airport and was proclaimed the State Air Force by the 71st Legislature in 1989. The State Bison Herd is at Caprock Canyons State Park and the State Dog Breed is the Blue Lacy. The Blue Lacy is a herding and hunting breed descended from greyhound, scenthound and coyote stock and developed by the Lacy brothers who settled near Marble Falls in 1858. The State Gem is the blue topaz, but the State Gemstone Cut is the Lone Star Cut. You may find the State Grass of Texas in your yard since it is Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) and is a native grass found on many different Texas soils. The State Pepper is (unsurprisingly) the jalapeno pepper, but the State Native Pepper is the chiltepin. And the State Pollinator is the Western Honey Bee. The State Insect is the Monarch Butterfly. Food is a big topic for state symbols as well. The State Cooking Implement (yes, we have one) is the cast-iron Dutch Oven. This goes along with the State Cobbler (peach) State Dish, Chili and the State Health Nut – the pecan. Texas has two State Pastries, the sopapilla and the strudel, but the State Pie is the pecan pie. These are just a few of the “interesting” symbols that Texas has adopted. The State Amphibian is the Texas Toad, but it was almost the Texas Blind Salamander (Eurycea rathbuni). The Texas blind salamander is only found in underwater limestone caverns of the Edwards Aquifer and in Spring Lake when forced above ground by springs that feed the San Marcos River. One of the six endangered and threatened species found in the Edwards Aquifer, in 1967 it was the first species named to the Federal Endangered Species List. In 2007, the House and Senate passed House Concurrent Resolution 30, but Gov. Rick Perry refused to sign it. In his veto statement he said, “The official designation of items and objects as much-loved objects of Texas should represent the entire state and not just one region or locality. This resolution designates an amphibian as the official State Amphibian of Texas that is found in only one Texas county. Such a small area does not adequately represent the State of Texas as a whole. Therefore, I am not signing HCR 30 by Bonnen.” The resolution to name the Texas Toad the State Amphibian passed two years later during the 81st Legislature.
For those of you interested in Texas Symbols and icons, check out the library’s copy of “Texas Icons: 50 Classic Views of the Lone Star State” by Donna Ingham. You can also get a full list of state symbols in the Texas Almanac. The library also has quite a few books on mushrooms, including “Astounding Mushrooms” by Alain Bellocq.
Suzanne Sanders is the new columnist for the library. She is the Community Services Manager for the San Marcos Public Library and came from the Austin Public Library in 2015 after having served there as a librarian for over 20 years. She gratefully accepts your questions for this column.
