FUNGUS: Sarcoscypha austriaca, Scarlet Elf Cup at Silverdale, Lancashire

April 18,2009:
Scarlet Elf Cup is a rather infrequently-found British fungus. It occurs in winter to spring on damp rotting wood of broad-leaf or coniferous trees, often amongst leaf litter.



The relatively large bright red cups can be up to 5 cm in diameter and occur singly or in small groups. It was formerly identified as S. coccinea but this species is not known to occur in Britain. On this occasion it was found in a shaded deciduous wooded area near Silverdale when six fruiting bodied were found.





Passing the same spot this year on March 23 (2010) some fruiting bodies were again seen, this time there were seven of them