Sarcoscypha coccinea- Scarlet Cup
It’s a rarity to find any mushrooms during the winter months especially in the Midwest, but Sarcoscypha coccinea is one I often do see during the colder months, even when there is some snow on the ground. And what a beautiful sight to see they are. Also called scarlet elf cup or scarlet cup, these bright red fungi grow on decayed wood or plant material. Varying from as little as a centimeter to as big as two inches across these vibrant looking mushrooms change from cup-shaped to plate-shaped as they mature. According to Wikipedia because of its anti-hemorrhage properties some Indians used the ground up mushroom as a styptic; to stop bleeding . In England the fruiting body was used as decoration.
Contributed by Moira O’Keefe
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