#sarcoscypha

[microcosmicobservations]

Stalked scarlet cup (Sarcoscypha occidentalis)

(June 2025)

[colorsoutofearth]

Scarlet elf cup fungus (Sarcoscypha coccinea) amongst Opposite-leaved golden-saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifolium)

Photo by Robert Thompson

[wild-e-eep]

Scarlet elf cups - Sarcoscypha austriaca - coming to the end of their season.

[vandaliatraveler]

Another wonderful discovery from the Mon River Trail this afternoon: either scarlet cup or scarlet elf cup (Sarcoscypha dudleyi or Sarcoscypha austriaca), radiant red, late winter to early spring fungi of Appalachia’s rich, moist woods. After consulting my trusty, beaten-up field guide, I was forced to call “uncle”. Short of being able to examine the spore pattern, it’s nearly impossible to distinguish dudleyi from austriaca.

[thebashfulbotanist]

Sarcoscypha, probably Sarcoscypha coccinea, but possibly S. dudleyi, on a dead branch in Boone County, Iowa. These are a type of Ascomycete fungi often called scarlet elf cups, for their little cuplike shape and bright red color. They’re a bright sight in late winter and early spring!

[absinthe-labyrinth]

Sarcoscypha

[pongwira]

Sarcoscypha coccinea #sarcoscypha #mushroomofinstagram #mushroom #sarcoscyphacoccinea #mushrooms #mushroomsociety #mushroompicking #mushroomphotography #naturelovers #mushroomguide #naturephotography #natureofthailand #fungi #fungus #nature #biodiversity #ecology #rainforest https://www.instagram.com/p/Bnam_oTAMla/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gn57x9mrbu34

[lovecraftsgarden]

Sarcoscypha occidentalis

Stalked Scarlet Cup

This guy is known as an “imperfect fungi” because it does not have a sexually reproductive stage in its life cycle. I initially wrote “life style” by accident, which I guess was a bit of a Freudian slip.

Anyway, putting this as simply as I can, sometimes there are two different types identified for this one singular organism- teleomorph and anamorph. The teleomorph stage (during which sexual reproduction can happen) is occasionally spotted in some but not all examples of this organism. The anamorph stage, during which asexual reproduction can happen by way of mitosis in conidia, is different enough from the fruiting body that some organizations recognize it as Molliardiomyces occidentalis. If you’re a fungus fan and I’ve messed this up and/or you can explain it better than I can, please send me a message. I’d be happy to add your (likely more coherent) explanation!

(via)