Craterellus fallax

Craterellus fallax is a species of "black trumpets" that occurs in Eastern North America. With a number of lookalikes in the genus, it is edible but not substantial.

Description
Craterellus fallax is grayish to blackish, skinny and 3-12 cm tall. The inside is smooth and black when young, turning rough and gray with age. The flesh is brittle and grayish to blackish.

The spore print is a pinkish yellow-orange.

Similar species
In western North America, C. fallax is replaced by C. calicornucopioides.

Craterellus fallax may be synonymous with the European species C. cornucopioides, which produces a white spore print.

A number of other species in the genus are similar.

Distribution and habitat
The species occurs in Eastern North America.

Ecology
C. fallax is mycorrhizal, forming associations with Tsuga and Quercus species, among others.

Uses
It is a choice edible fungus, although is not substantial.