Sarcoscypha

Sarcoscypha is a genus of cup fungi in the family Sarcoscyphaceae, order Pezizales. Commonly known as scarlet elf cups, these fungi produce bright red to scarlet, cup-shaped fruiting bodies that appear in damp deciduous forests in late winter or early spring. They are saprobic, feeding on decaying wood and plant debris.

Morphology features include a hollow, cup-like structure with a vivid red or pink interior and a contrasting pale exterior, which is often white or cream. Cups typically range from about 1 to several centimeters in diameter. The interior surface bears the spore-producing tissue, while the exterior can be smooth or slightly hairy, depending on the species and maturity.

Taxonomy and species within Sarcoscypha are distributed across temperate regions. The best-known species are Sarcoscypha coccinea (widely reported as the scarlet elf cup) and Sarcoscypha austriaca (described from Europe), with North American taxa such as Sarcoscypha dudleyi recognized in certain regions. Distinctions among species are primarily based on microscopic spore characteristics and geographic distribution, which can complicate field identification.

Ecology and phenology: these fungi fruit on damp, decaying wood and leaf litter, often on sticks of deciduous trees. They tend to emerge after rainfall in late winter and early spring, sometimes in large numbers, and are among the first visible macrofungi of the season.

Edibility: scarlet elf cups are edible when cooked and can be used in soups or as a garnish. As with any wild mushroom, careful identification is essential, and they should be harvested from unpolluted areas and properly prepared before consumption.