Common Name: Black Trumpet

Scientific Name: Craterellus cornucopioides (formerly known as C. fallax

Spore Print Color: pinkish, yellow to white

Characteristics: Small trumpet shaped mushrooms. When young the outside surface may have a salmon or light brown color, or they may be some shade of grey. As they mature they tend to become darker, even black, thus the common name.

Edibility: Good, although personally I feel they are over-rated. They are small and don't amount to much when used as a stand-alone mushroom. I prefer them dried, ground to a dust and added to mushroom dishes for enhanced flavor.

Time of year: July through September. I found my first black trumpets this year (2006) and do enjoy looking for them,

Location: Mossy knolls seem to be where the black trumpet prefers to fruit. Maybe because that's where I look. Beech trees seem to play a role in the habitat as well. You'll have to really look hard to find your first black trumpets. They tend to be difficult to see, at least at first.

Copyright ©2003 - 2006, Rex Bartlett- Michigan Morels.com HOME