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Scarlet Elfcup

Sarcoscypha austriaca

Scarlet Elfcup

CapSmooth red cup or disc shape rather than a cap. The felty surface of the outside of the cup is paler than the inside.
Cup diameter2-7cm
GillsNone
StemShort stem, up to 3cm long, often covered by moss or leaf litter.
SporesWhite
Scarlet Elfcup

Where to find:

Scarlet Elfcup can be found in damp, shady areas, growing on dead hardwood on the woodland floor. They are often surrounded by moss and can be found throughout Britain and Ireland.

Did you know:

The name “elfcup” comes from folklore, where woodland elves were said to drink or bathe in water collecting in the cups of the fungus.

Don’t mistake it with…

The Scarlet Elfcup is often confused with the Ruby Elfcup Sarcoscypha coccinea. It requires a microscope to tell the difference between these two species!

Other Species

Honey Fungus (Armillaria species) 
Honey fungus, Armillaria mellea, photographed on a dead branch in a woodland. The pale creamy brown of the fungus stands out against bright green mosses that cover the branch

Honey Fungus (Armillaria species)