Craterellus cornucopoides - Horn of Plenty

Taxonomy

Phylum: Basidiomycota

Class: Agaricomycetes

Order: Cantharellales

A very deep funnel characterises this sombre, edible fungus, which is variously known as the Horn of Death and the Horn of Plenty. The fruitbodies grow on soil under deciduous trees; they are tough-skinned and so they rarely get infested with maggots, and they can be found well into the winter months.

This mushroom, apparently as one species, occurs in North, Central and South America, throughout Europe (from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean) and Asia as well as in Japan.

Identification guide

Cap	The funnel-shaped cap has an inrolled margin; its diameter ranges from 4 to 8 cm, and the colour of the upper (infertile) surface varies from grey-brown to dark grey or almost black.
Veins	Not strictly gills at all, the wrinkled veins on the underside of the cap distinguish the various 'chanterelles' from true agarics. The veins on mature specimens are shallow, thick and covered in a fine white bloom; however, young fruitbodies are usually darker and much smoother on their fertile surface.
Stem	The grey stem is hollow and narrows towards the base.
Spore print	White.
Odour/taste	Not distinctive.
Habitat	This species is most frequently found in deciduous forests under Beech trees, but it also occurs with oaks.
Season	June to November - even into December in mild autumns.
Occurrence	Localised, but usually abundant where they do occur.
Similar species	Cantharellus cibarius is a bright yellow or yellow-orange fungus of similar form and size. Cantharellus tubaeformis has a brownish cap and a yellow stem.