ance. Its cap is very narrow and much elongated so that it is 
trumpet-shaped, or it may be compared to a cornucopia or horn 
of plenty. It is very thin, dry, hollow, flexible and slightly 
tough. It is grayish-brown, ash color, dark, smoky brown, or 
sometimes almost black. ‘The margin is erect or spreading like 
the margin of a trumpet’s mouth, and it may be regular or wavy, 
folded, lobed or split. The surface is usually slightly marked 
or roughened by a few fibrous tufts or scales. The cavity of the 
cap extends to its base. The lower or spore-bearing surface, 
which, from the shape of the cap, becomes rather the outer or 
external surface, is a little 
uneven or wrinkled and is 
colored similar to but often 
a little paler than the up- 
per surface. The stem is 
extremely short or almost 
wanting. 
The plant is two to four 
inches high and one to two 
inches broad at the top. 
It grows gregariously or in 
clusters inwoods and shady 
places, on naked earth and 
banks or among moss and fallen leaves. A favorite place of 
gvowth is in or along old abandoned or unused roads in woods 
{t may be found from July to September, and probably later in 
the scason in more southern localities. 
Several French writers record this as edible, but admit that it 
is not very popular because of its thin flesh and dark color. Dr. 
Cooke says that his first trial was so satisfactory that he never 
missed an opportunity afterwards of gathering it for the table, 
and he says that a friend, who learned from him of its edible 
qualities, now thinks nothing of walking six or eight miles to 
procure a dish of it. 
The last family to be here noticed is the Clavarieae, and the 
genus to which our edible species belong is Clavaria. This 
name is derived from the Latin word clava, which means a club. 
It has reference to the shape of some of the plants belonging to 
this genus. The plants are sometimes called “fairy clubs.” No 
cap is present in these plants. They are more like simple or 
branched stems without caps. The simple ones are sometimes 
gradually thickened toward the top, and therefore club-shaped; 
the branching plants are often so abundantly supplied with 
78 
Hydnum repandum.  Craterellus cornucopioides. 
