Page 255 - The Forager’s Guide to Wild Foods

Horn of Plenty, Cantharellus

cornucopioides (CANTHARELLACEAE)

HORN OF PLENTY or Californian Black Trumpet EDIBLE PARTS: cap, stem
is dark and trumpet-shaped. Measuring 1.5-4 inch- KEY MEDICINAL USES: This species is being studied
es (4-10cm) tall, it fruits in diffuse to dense groups for its antimutagenic and anti-tumor effects.
between winter and spring. This mushroom is found
HOW TO EAT: This versatile mushroom has a robust,
in wooded areas from southern Oregon to northern
earthy flavor and a sweet aroma. Its taste has been
California. It grows under conifers and hardwoods,
compared to fresh sourdough bread. Black trumpets
preferring Douglas-fir, live oak, tanoak, manzanita,
pair well with cream, butter, and meats. When dried,
and madrone.
their flavor is reminiscent of parmesan cheese. Make
CAP: The funnel-shaped cap, which blends fluidly sure to inspect and wash them thoroughly, as they are
with the stem, is 1.2-2.5 inches (3-6cm) broad and often frequented by maggots.
hollow at the center. Its margins are folded down
BLACK TRUMPET SPREAD: Ingredients: 1 tbsp. but-
when young, becoming wavy and spreading with ma-
ter, 2 tbsp. garlic scapes, ½ cup black trumpets
turity. The inside of the funnel is often finely scaly,
(chopped), 8 oz. (230g) cream cheese, 1 pinch salt, 1
with a near-black to greyish-brown coloration. The
pinch white pepper. In a pan, sauté scapes until ten-
mushroom’s thin, blackish flesh is brittle and pleas-
der. Add mushrooms, cooking until their liquid is re-
ant-smelling.
moved. On low heat, add cream cheese, stirring until
UNDERSIDE AND STEM: Smooth or slightly wrin- combined. Scoop into a sealable jar and let cool for 2
kled, the underside is usually paler than the cap. As hrs. Serve with crackers.
it ages, it accumulates a whitish coating of spores.
POISONOUS LOOK-ALIKES: Other black mushrooms
The hollow stem, which tapers downward, is simply
including: Plectania spp. - cup-shaped rather than
an extension of the cap. Its color is greyish, like the trumpet-shaped. Urnula spp. - urn-shaped. Thele-
underside.
phora terrestris - normally fruits in rosette-like fans;
SPORES: 8.5-12 x 6-9 µ, elliptical, smooth; Spore while sometimes funnel-shaped, it is generally small-
print: white to creamy er than C. cornucopioides; purple-brown coloration.

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