Craterellus cornucopioides, also known as the Black Trumpet, Horn of Plenty, or Trumpet of the Dead, is a distinctive fungus with a thin, funnel-shaped, dark grey to black cap. Lacking true gills, it has smooth or slightly wrinkled inner surfaces. Its stem blends seamlessly with the cap, forming a hollow, trumpet-like structure. This species typically grows in deciduous woodlands, often among leaf litter, and is most commonly found beneath beech and oak trees.

Fruiting Body lacks a clearly defined cap and stem, is tubular at first and becomes deeply vase-shaped as it matures. The upper edge is rolled under when young and often remains partly rolled under when mature. The upper or inner surface is black to dark grey, finely roughened or covered with fine scales and dark fibres that sit over a paler greyish or greyish brown background. The lower and outer fertile surface is a much lighter shade of gray. The fertile surface is more or less smooth but may have decurrent wrinkles. Flesh thin, brittle and blackish. Spore print white to very pale yellow.

Microscopic Features: The spores are broadly ellipsoidal and smooth, measuring 11.5–16 x 7–10 μm and hyaline in appearance.

Craterellus cornucopioides on the First Nature Web site.
Craterellus cornucopioides on the MushroomExpert.Com Web site.