A small dark trumpet-shaped edible mushroom. Highly prized but easy to overlook on forest floor.

Also called: Black Trumpet, Horn of Plenty, Trompette de la Mort (French)

Native status: Native; widespread in eastern North America

§ Quick facts

SizeFruiting body 3–8 cm tall, 1–4 cm wide; clusters in groups
Weight5–30 g per individual; clusters often 50–200 g
LifespanFruiting bodies 1–3 weeks; mycelium persists for years
OrderCantharellales
FamilyCantharellaceae

§ Encyclopedia

Craterellus cornucopioides is a species of fungus commonly known as the horn of plenty, black chanterelle, black trumpet, or trumpet of the dead. It forms a funnel-shaped grayish mushroom, which is found in Eurasia, North America, and Australia. It is edible.

Source: Wikipedia — Craterellus cornucopioides Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Small to medium trumpet-shaped or fluted dark gray-to-black mushroom growing in clusters; underside smooth or slightly veined (no true gills); hollow throughout.

Similar species. Devil's Urn (smaller, cup-shaped). Other Craterellus species (similar but different colors/ranges). No toxic look-alikes when ID is clear.

Voice. N/A

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Mycorrhizal — forms exchange relationships with hardwood roots, especially oak and beech.

Behavior. Despite forbidding name ("Trumpet of Death" in French), highly prized edible mushroom — one of the most expensive wild mushrooms by weight in North American markets. Dark color and trumpet shape make them extremely difficult to spot against leaf litter; experienced foragers often kneel and look horizontally rather than scanning the forest floor. Cannot be cultivated commercially.

§ Range

Eastern North America

§ Habitat

Mature hardwood forests

§ Threats

Forest loss, soil compaction.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the black trumpet is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Support mature forest conservation. Don't over-collect.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • North American Mycological Association
  • Mycological Society of America
  • Northeast Mycological Federation