Craterellus cornucopioides

Craterellus cornucopioides
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Fungi
Phylum:	Basidiomycota
Class:	Agaricomycetes
Order:	Cantharellales
Family:	Cantharellaceae
Genus:	Craterellus
Species:	C. cornucopioides
Binomial name
Craterellus cornucopioides (L.) Pers.

Craterellus cornucopioides
Mycological characteristics
	ridges on hymenium
	cap is infundibuliform
	hymenium is decurrent
	stipe is bare
	spore print is cream to buff
	ecology is saprotrophic
	edibility: choice

Craterellus cornucopioides is an edible mushroom, also known as trumpet of death, black chanterelle, black trumpet, or horn of plenty. The Cornucopia, in Greek mythology, referred to the magnificent horn of the goat (or goat of the nymph) Amalthea, that filled itself with whatever meat or drink its owner requested. It has become the symbol of plenty.

The mushroom is dark, almost black, and looks rather unattractive, but has a very good flavour. When dried its flavour even improves becoming quite like that of black truffle. It is hard to find because of its dark color, which easily blends in with the leaf litter on the forest floor. Hunters of this mushroom say it is like looking for black holes in the ground.

External links

• Craterellus cornucopioides in Index Fungorum.
• Mushroom-collecting.com: Craterellus cornucopioides
• MykoWeb California Fungi: Craterellus cornucopioides
• Craterellus cornucopioides Healing-Mushrooms.net, March 2008.