Trompetts also known as Black Trumpets, trumpet of the dead or Horns of plenty (Craterellus cornucopioides) are a wonderful find, if you can find them, which is far from easy as they're not the easiest fungi to gather. Usually found growing in the mossy patches amongst leaf litter around Beech and Oak, they can reappear in the same spots for several years. When young (as above) they're small and incredibly well camouflaged amongst the leaf litter of autumn. As they mature they can get much larger and then take on the broad mouthed trumpet look which gives them several of their common names. Even when fully grown they get no easier to find, still mimicking the colours and forms of decaying leaf litter, as the age they turn almost black making them, if possible, even harder to locate. They comprise of one long hollow funnel shaped fruiting body, dark brown grey/black on the inside and lighter grey on the outside, the underside can be lightly wrinkled, though they have no gills or anything, they can appear in large quantities. They'll grow to about 10cm in height with a 6cm, or so, diameter with rolled margins. Quite easy to identify, though as with all fungi use the 110% rule. I usually collect Trompetts with scissors, trying to avoid damaging their root systems. I didn't collect the ones I found today as I'm hoping they'll get bigger. Although not looking that appealing Trompetts are a sort after mushroom, used fresh, or as I prefer dried, they make a great addition to soups, sauces and stews.
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