Ruby Elf Cup

The scarlet elfcup is very similar in appearance to the ruby elfcup sarcoscypha coccinea although the latter is slightly smaller and deeper red in comparison.

Ruby elf cup.

As its name suggests the ruby elfcup is a bright red cup shaped fungus. It is also more orange than red and does look remarkably like orange peel so much so that some mycologists have been known to. Both these species are variously referred to as scarlet or crimson elf cups. Almost identical and edible ruby elfcup sarcosypha coccinea although several different sources confuse the two.

How people can help fungi play an important role within our ecosystems helping to recycle nutrients from dead or decaying organic matter and providing food and shelter for different. Small bright red cups with short stems appear in late winter and spring on twigs and branches. Coccinea has been known by many names. Indeed the edibility of scarlet elf cups is disputed.

Very similar in appearance to the scarlet elf cup sarcosypha austriaca. The ruby elf cup is more likely to be mistaken but is much more rare than the scarlet elf cup. Sarcoscyphaceae distribution taxonomic history etymology identification culinary notes reference sources. Scarlet elf cup identification edibility distribution march 2 2013.

The scarlet elf cup has slightly curved or straight microscopic hairs on the outside of the cup whereas the ruby elf cup has curly or coiled hairs. The cap has microscopic tubes called asci that release the spores from the upper cup of the mushroom. They are virtually indistinguishable to the naked eye. Sarcoscypha coccinea the ruby elfcup in common with the macroscopically almost identical scarlet elfcup sarcoscypha austriaca appears in winter on dead twigs.

Orange peel fungus grows in a different habitat mainly being found on bare soil or amongst grass in lawns or at roadsides. Thank you for information on scarlet elf cup fungi out walking today in a woodland area. Sarcocypha coccinea and sarcoscypha austriaca. Scarlet elf cup sarcoscypha coccinea is virtually indistinguishable from the similar ruby elf cup sarcoscypha austriaca without microscopy.

More common in areas of higher rainfall. It is widespread but scarce and can be found on fallen twigs and branches particularly in areas with higher rainfall. The edge of the cup in the scarlet elf cup has a comb tooth like surface whereas the ruby elf cup has a unevenly thick ridged edge which is more complete than the edge of a scarlet elf cup specimen.