Black Trumpet Mushrooms
The black trumpet is one of my favorite wild mushrooms. Don't let its unremarkable appearance fool you; this is one of the best tasting fungi you'll ever find.
Black trumpets are considered a gourmet edible mushroom. They have a smoky, rich flavor and a pleasant, fruity aroma. There are no poisonous look alikes, making this a great mushroom for beginners to identify. Unfortunately they're not always easy to find. Their dark color and strange shape make them look like little black holes on the forest floor. Many a time have people looked right at them without realizing the treat before their very eyes!
This article goes into more detail on black trumpet mushrooms. We'll start with some
basic facts to give you more information about your quarry. Then we'll move on to the important stuff,
identification and where to find them. I'll end with some
cooking tips and a few easy mushroom recipes.
Basic Facts
- Black trumpets are shaped like a funnel and come in a brown, gray, or black color. The edges of the cap are rolled outwards and wavy.
- One of the most noticeable things about black trumpets is that they have no gills or other visible spore-bearing structures (such as pores or teeth). The underside of their caps will always be smooth to slightly wrinkled.
- Black trumpets are thought to be both saprotrophic (feeding on dead organic matter) and mycorrhizal (creating symbiotic relationships with the roots of plants). Their precise ecological role is not yet fully understood.
- The most common species of is Craterellus cornucopioides. Other species do exist, such as Craterellus foetidus.
- Other common names of Craterellus cornucopioides are "trumpet of death" and "horn of plenty". As they're closely related to chanterelles they're also known as the "black chanterelle".
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Finding and Mushroom Identification
Identification of black trumpets is not very difficult. Finding them, however, can be.
That's not because they fruit in remote places. You may have an incredible patch of black trumpets nearby. Yet their dark gray appearance makes them very hard to spot on the forest floor.
The trick to finding them lies in knowing where and how to look. Keep these tips in mind when choosing a mushroom hunting location:
- Hardwood forests, especially near oak and beech. These mushrooms do not fruit on wood, but near it. You won't find a lot of black trumpets at the very base of a tree.
- Near mossy areas. I've often found them fruiting in or near patches of thick green moss on the side of trails. The contrast of their dark color against the moss makes them easier to see.
- Near washes and small streams. On the edge of small streams on hills and trails is a great place to look. They seem to like damp, dark areas. No roaring rivers, just smaller seasonal streams.
- When looking, walk slowly and look directly down. They are very easy to miss unless you're standing right over them. Take your time when examining the leaf litter.
They grow in clusters, especially on the West Coast. So if you find one, stop and carefully look around. There may be many more nearby.
As for identification, there are no poisonous look alikes. This fact, along with their unique appearance, makes them a good mushroom for beginners.
Examine the pictures and the list of identification features below. You'll quickly get a feel for how they should look. That said, if you're a true beginner always check with an expert before eating something you find. I never support mushroom identification based solely on what you've read on the Internet. Even with mushrooms as tasty as these!
Cap
Funnel or vase shaped with a gray, brown, or black color. They sometimes flare out at the end with wavy edges. The underside is just a smooth surface with no gills, pores, or teeth. The inside of the cap may or may not be covered in small scales. (Craterellus foetidus has a wrinkled underside but still not real gills.)
Stem
Up to a few inches tall and the same color, or just slightly lighter than, the cap. The inside of the stem is hollow. The flesh itself is thin and easily broken.
Texture
Take special note of the texture of the black trumpet. They're smooth or just slightly wrinkled with a soft feel to them. I think they feel a lot like suede.
Spore Print
White to a pinkish salmon color.
Time of Year
Summer and fall, through the winter in California.
Look Alikes
Sometimes confused with Urnula craterium, the devil's urn (above). Fortunately the devil's urn is
not poisonous, it's just not as tasty. They have a more cup-like appearance in fruit in the spring (black trumpets fruit in the summer and fall).
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Tasty Trumpets
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