Megan's Nature Nook
Nature Notes, Phenology, Photography, Fun Facts, Trips, Maybe Even a Bad Joke or Two... and More!
Spring has finally sprung! Grass is greening up, trees are budding, and Scarlet Cup Fungus is among us! Scarlet Cup Fungus (Sarcoscypha austriaca), also called Scarlet Elf Cup Fungus, is one of the first fungi to appear, adding a splash of color to the forest floor. Scarlet Cup can be found when the spring ephemeral flowers begin to bloom. It is one of the earliest fungi to appear and can be seen April through June. Look for it in hardwood forests on the ground mixed in with the leaf litter. It grows on dead wood such as twigs and branches that are laying on the forest floor. Scarlet Cup gets its name from the color and shape of its fruiting body, the part of the fungus that we see. The “cup” is ¾ - 2 ¾ inches in diameter and is attached to a stalk. The height of the stalk varies depending on how deep the leaf litter is. The inside on the cup is red, sometimes fading to a reddish-orange color with some wrinkles as it ages. The outside of the cup is pinkish-white and covered with minute hairs. As you’re out and about enjoying this awesome spring weather with a hike, keep your eyes open for Scarlet Cup Fungus! It’s fairly easy to spot with its bright red color amongst the dark leaf letter. Go out and look for it before it’s gone! Why does Miss. Mushroom go out with Mr. Mushroom?
. . . Because he is a fungi (fun guy)!
2 Comments
David Henry
5/7/2018 08:30:54 am
I saw these a couple weeks ago at Root River County Park. It’s good to knock w the name. Thank for the information!
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Megan Betcher
5/11/2018 05:05:41 pm
David,
Reply
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