Trompette de la mort Craterellus cornucopioides

Scientific Name: Craterellus cornucopioides (Cantherellaceae). 'Cornucopioides' refers to the cornucopia (Horn of Plenty) of Greek myth.

English Name: Horn of Plenty; Trumpet of Death (Chanterelle family).

French Name: Trompette de la mort (='trumpet of death'); Craterelle; Trompette des morts (='trumpet of the dead'); la Craterelle en forme de corne (='horn shaped chanterelle').

5 Key Characters:

• very dark coloured, grey brown to black.
• funnel shaped with a somewhat wrinkled rolled edge.
• leathery. 
• very hard to see in the leaf litter.
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Lookalikes: Chanterelle Cantharellus cibarius, which is yellow all over. Trumpet Chanterelle Cantharellus tubaeformis, which has a yellow stem.

Habitat: In the leaf litter of deciduous woodland, usually under Hornbeam Carpinus betulus, sometimes Beech Fagus sylvaticus or Oak Quercus spp.


Fruiting Period: June-July-August-September-October-November-December.


Status: Locally abundant.


Edible or Toxic? One of the most prized edible mushrooms in the forest.


Photographed by Loire Valley Nature:

The uncommon C. c. var. flavicans, found in the Forest of Preuilly, October 2015.