Black mushrooms are strange things that you may spot in the environment or your living space. Although Some believe mushrooms are good luck, people are often worried about their pets and kids and ask me “Are black mushrooms poisonous?” or “How to identify black mushrooms in my yard?”. The black mushroom identification is the first step to answering their concerns.
Here I will provide you with 13 types of black mushrooms with their pictures and an overview of their appearance and habitat, which will help you to identify them. Additionally, you will learn how to identify mushrooms with one of the best free online tools.
Let’s start our journey.
Scientific names: Craterellus cornucopioides
Other common names: Horn of Plenty, Trumpet of Death, Black Chanterelle
The first on our list is an edible mushroom that not only is very delicious but also incredibly fragrant. However, there are several black trumpet mushrooms look-alike that are sometimes called “poisonous black trumpet mushrooms”. Hence, distinguishing between them is critical.
Black Trumpet Mushroom Identification:
You can easily identify this fungus due to its black or dark brown trumpet-shaped cap that has a wavy or lobed margin. Its surface texture is wrinkled or pleated which makes a unique appearance.
The caps are measured between 2-8 cm in diameter on top of a hollow stem that often is curved or twisted. The stem can be up to 10 cm tall with thin and fragile flesh.
Habitat:
Black Trumpet mushrooms are typically found in deciduous and coniferous forests, particularly in areas with rich, moist soil. They have a mycorrhizal relationship with trees, forming symbiotic associations with the roots. These mushrooms prefer shaded and damp environments, often growing on the forest floor or near fallen leaves and rotting wood.
Scientific names: Craterellus fallax
Other common names: False Chanterelle, Eastern Black Trumpet, Horn of Plenty (confusingly, the same name as Black Trumpet)
It is one of the black trumpet mushroom look-alikes that fortunately is edible with thin and delicate flesh. Let’s identify it.
Appearance:
The Black Chanterelle is similar to the black trumpet but with darker colouration. This black mushroom has a funnel-shaped or trumpet-shaped cap with wavy edges. In the sense of colouration, the caps are black or dark brown, however, you may spot grey or olive-green ones too.
The caps are between 2-8 cm in diameter on top of a hollow, slender stem that is slightly curved. The.
Habitat:
Black Chanterelles can be found in a variety of habitats, including mixed woodlands, coniferous forests, and heathlands. They tend to thrive in acidic soils and are often associated with tree species like pine, spruce, and oak. These mushrooms are typically found growing on the forest floor, mossy areas, or leaf litter.
3- Black Morel Mushroom
Scientific names: Morchella elata
Other common names: Elata Morel, Dark Morel, Black Morel Mushroom
This is an edible black mushroom with thick and spongy flesh. You must cook it well before eating. Let’s read about its appearance to identify it.
Appearance:
I live the appearance of Black Morel with its conical or honeycomb-like cap. The caps have deep pits and ridges that make a distinctive look likes. Its black or dark brown caps can grow up to 5-15 cm tall. The young mushrooms have tightly closed caps that become more cone-shaped with age. The ridges become more defined too. The white stems are hollow and are attached to the lower portion of the cap.
Habitat:
Black Morels are commonly found in woodlands and forests, often appearing after wildfires or in areas with disturbed soil. They have a preference for calcareous soils, such as those derived from limestone or chalk. These mushrooms often grow in association with various tree species, including ash, elm, poplar, and apple trees.
Scientific names: Alloclavaria purpurea
Other common names: Crown Coral, Black-stemmed Ramaria, Purple Coral
Appearance:
You can easily identify this black mushroom due to its unique branching and coral-like appearance find it with numerous elongated, finger-like, or branched structures. This mushroom will come from black to dark brown, and even purple or grey. The individual branches can measure 5-20 cm in height. The flesh is edible and firm and brittle. Although you cannot see a distinct stem it is rather a base from which the branches emerge.
Habitat:
Black Coral Mushrooms are typically found in mixed woodlands, coniferous forests, or areas with well-decayed organic matter. They have a mycorrhizal relationship with various tree species, such as pine, spruce, fir, and oak. These mushrooms often grow on the forest floor or among mosses and leaf litter.
Scientific names: Lycoperdon nigrescens
Other common names: Dusky Puffball, Black Earthstar, Black Earthball, Black-staining Puffball
If you spot a small spiky ball in your garden, it is a Dusky Puffball. Let to look at it closer.
Appearance:
It is a cream-to-brown round or pear-shaped mushroom that turns black or dark brown with age, hence the name. It typically measures 2-6 cm in diameter. You may be shocked if you spot its spore-realizing process. The outer skin ruptures when the spores are mature, releasing a cloud of dark spores. Although its flesh is initially white, it turns powdery and black as the spores develop inside.
Habitat:
Black Puffballs can be found in a variety of habitats, including grasslands, woodlands, and meadows. They prefer nutrient-rich soils and are often associated with decaying organic matter. These mushrooms tend to grow in open areas or on the edges of forests, sometimes appearing in groups or clusters.
Scientific names: Exidia glandulosa
Other common names: Witches’ Butter, Black Jelly Fungus, Black Wood Ear
Appearance:
The Black Jelly Roll is a gelatinous or rubbery mushroom with a dark black or brownish colour. It forms irregularly shaped, flattened, or lobed masses that resemble dried fruiting bodies. It can range in size from a few centimetres to several decimeters in length. The outer surface is smooth and shiny when wet. When dried, it becomes hard and shrivelled.
Habitat:
Black Jelly Rolls are commonly found on decaying wood, particularly fallen branches and logs. They thrive in damp and shaded environments, often occurring in moist woodlands or along streams. These mushrooms can also be found on decaying plant material, such as leaves or bark.
Scientific names: Geoglossum nigritum
Other common names: Black Earthtongue Fungus, Black Earth Tongue Lichen
Appearance:
If you see small black mushrooms growing directly from the soil in the yard that resembles a black tongue, it most often is a Black Earth Tongue. This black mushroom has a slender, elongated, tongue-shaped black or dark brown cap with a glossy appearance.
The cap can measure 3-10 cm in length on top of a black or dark brown stem with a smooth or slightly wrinkled texture.
Habitat:
Black Earth Tongues are typically found in grasslands, meadows, heathlands, or sandy soils. They prefer habitats with well-drained soil and are often associated with decomposing organic matter. These mushrooms can be found growing directly from the soil or among mosses and lichens.
Scientific names: Pseudoplectania nigrella
Other common names: Ebony Cup, Black false Plectania, Hairy black cup, Black Discomycete, Black Cup Fungus
Appearance:
This black mushroom identification is very easy. you can detect the Black Cup with its cup-shaped or saucer-shaped cap that measures about 0.5-2 cm in diameter. This small black mushroom has a black or dark brown cap with a smooth or slightly wrinkled texture.
You can see the inner surface of the cap is often lighter in colour compared to the outer surface. You cannot see its very short stem.
Habitat:
Black Cups are commonly found in woodlands, forests, and grassy areas. They have a saprobic nature, meaning they derive nutrients from decaying organic matter. These mushrooms often grow on decaying wood, leaf litter, or soil rich in organic material.
Scientific names: Tricholoma terreum
Other common names: Grey Knight, Blackening Tricholoma, Blackening Russula
Appearance:
Sometimes people ask me what are these big black mushrooms in my yard. Most often they are the Black Knight Mushrooms with a convex or flat cap. you can identify them with their black or dark grey caps that can reach a diameter of 5-15 cm. This fungus has a smooth or slightly velvety texture.
Another thing that you must note for this black mushroom identification is the edges of the cap may become wavy or irregular with age. The white or greyish stem has often a ring. This black mushroom is slightly poisonous with white flesh that sometimes has a faint smell of anise or almonds.
Habitat:
Black Knight Mushrooms can be found in various habitats, including deciduous and coniferous forests, as well as grasslands. They have a mycorrhizal relationship with trees, forming associations with species like oak, beech, and pine. These mushrooms often appear in late summer and autumn, growing on the forest floor or near tree roots.
Scientific names: Strobilomyces floccopus
Appearance:
Initially, you find this black mushroom with a convex cap that will turn irregularly shaped or flattened with age. The caps are often black to dark brown and covered in coarse, matted, and shaggy scales, resembling the texture of a pinecone or the fur of an old animal, which gives it the “Old Man” name.
The caps are measured between 5-15 cm in diameter on top of a solid and cylindrical stem that similar to the cap is covered in coarse, shaggy scales.
Habitat:
This black mushroom species prefers damp and shady environments, often growing on the forest floor among leaf litter, moss, or decaying wood. It has a mycorrhizal relationship with trees, meaning it forms a mutually beneficial association with the roots of certain tree species, such as oaks, beeches, or pines.
Scientific names: Auricularia polytricha
Other common names: Tree-ear, Cloud ear fungus, Wood Ear
Most people want to know what is black fungus mushroom. Auricularia polytricha has a lot of benefits for your health from its antioxidant properties to reducing the risk of thrombosis. Below I tell you how to identify it with its appearance and habitat.
Appearance:
The black fungus mushroom has unique characteristics due to its cap is not well-defined like a typical mushroom. It has a gelatinous, ear-shaped cap with a wavy structure that can range in size from 2-10 cm (0.8-4 inches) in diameter. The cap is usually dark brown to black with a smooth and gelatinous texture.
Additionally, you cannot find a distinct stem similar to other mushrooms. Its stem is a short and inconspicuous gelatinous, elastic, and rubbery texture that connects directly to the cap.
Habitat:
This mushroom species is commonly found on dead or dying wood, particularly on decaying tree branches or logs. It thrives in warm, humid climates and is often associated with tropical or subtropical forests. Wood Ears can also be cultivated on logs or artificial substrates.
Here, you see brown mushrooms or even yellow mushrooms that people call black! Do you know why? keep reading.
Scientific names: Meripilus sumstinei
Other common names: Black-Staining Meripilus, Sumstine’s Polypore
Appearance:
You can easily identify the Black Staining Polypore with its large, fan-shaped, or semicircular cap that can grow up to 30 cm in diameter. The cap is initially whitish or light brown but its white flesh can stain black when cut or damaged. So, people called them Black Staining Polypore.
The caps of this fungus have velvety or hairy texture with small pores or tubes on its underside. The stem is short, stout, and usually attached off-centre.
Habitat:
Black Staining Polypores are primarily found on the decaying wood of broadleaf trees, especially oak and beech. They are often seen in old-growth forests or areas with mature trees. These mushrooms can form large clusters or rosettes on the base or trunk of the host tree, usually near the ground.
scientific name: Lentinula edodes
Other common names: black Shiitake mushrooms
Appearance:
One of the most popular edible mushrooms with a convex cap that gets flatter with age. The cap colour comes from light brown to dark brown but not black. People usually buy Shiitake mushrooms as dried when their colour turns black, so, they call them black shiitake mushrooms in Chinese.
Its texture is smooth and slightly sticky. You may spot concentric lines or ridges on it. The cap is top on a cylindrical stem that can grow up to 4-10 cm tall and is often lighter in colour compared to the cap. You may find the stem slightly curved or tapered towards the base
Habitat:
Shiitake mushrooms can be found growing on decaying hardwood trees, particularly on species like oak, beech, or chestnut. In their natural habitat, Shiitake mushrooms are often found in forests with high humidity and mild temperatures. However, they are now widely cultivated, both indoors and outdoors, using specially prepared substrate blocks or logs.
In the previous part, I tried to help you identify black mushrooms by comparing them with their images. Over 14000 mushroom species with variegated shapes and colours have been detected so far. So, you may spot s black mushroom that I didn’t mention above.
It is impossible to show you the images of all of the black mushrooms in a post and it will be hard for you to find your intended mushroom in a broad collection of images. Hence, the best way is to get help from free online tools. They do it quickly and with high accuracy.
One of the best free online tools that I experienced several times about black mushroom identification is the “House plant identifier”. It not only can identify plants but also can identify mushrooms and detect plant diseases. Thanks to it!
Working with the “House plant identifier” is easy and you can take an online picture from your black mushroom (or upload its picture from your gallery) and click on the “Start” button.
You may see the black mushrooms in the yard, garden, wild environment, or even in your indoor plants. the first thing most people want to know is whether are black mushrooms poisonous or not. So, black mushroom identification is very important.
You found the images of 13 black mushrooms with a short description of their appearance. I also told you about their habitat and showed you how to identify your mushroom with free online tools. Did you identify your mushroom? What was its name? Please tell us about it below this page.
Hi, I’m Elaheh. My Academic major is plant protection, and houseplants are my expertise. As a houseplant lover, my house is full of indoor plants and it is my passion to take care of them. Hence, I’m here to share my knowledge and experience about growing healthy houseplants. I am also a plant protection advisor, so feel free to ask me any questions you may have.