coccinea (Scarlet Elf Cup, Ruby Elf Cup) — Species | WeMush Taxonomy

coccinea

Scarlet Elf Cup, Ruby Elf Cup

Sarcoscypha coccinea, commonly known as the Scarlet Elf Cup or Ruby Elf Cup, is a striking ascomycete fungus belonging to the family Sarcoscyphaceae. It is characterized by its cup-shaped apothecia (fruiting bodies) which display a brilliant scarlet red fertile inner surface, contrasting sharply with a paler, whitish-pink tomentose (hairy) exterior. The cups typically measure 1.5 to 5 cm in diameter and arise from a short, often buried stipe attached to decaying hardwood sticks. As a saprobic species, it plays a vital ecological role in the decomposition of lignin and cellulose in damp woodland environments, specifically targeting fallen branches of hazel, elm, willow, and oak.

Edibility: Edible with caution. While non-toxic, the Scarlet Elf Cup is considered of low culinary value due to its tough, rubbery texture and insubstantial flesh. It has a mild, earthy, slightly mushroomy flavor. It is occasionally used as a colorful garnish for salads or soups. Thorough cooking is recommended to improve texture, though some foragers consume it raw in small quantities. Safety: Caution is advised primarily due to the difficulty in distinguishing it macroscopically from other red cup fungi. While its closest lookalikes (e.g., Sarcoscypha austriaca) are also generally considered non-toxic, accurate identification requires microscopic analysis. Avoid collecting from roadsides or polluted areas as bioaccumulation data is limited.

Habitat: Damp deciduous woodlands, often found in shaded areas near streams or buried under moss and leaf litter.. Substrates: decaying hardwood sticks, hazel (Corylus), elm (Ulmus), willow (Salix), oak (Quercus). Conditions: Requires high humidity and cool temperatures; fruiting is triggered by winter chill.. Season: Late winter to early spring (typically January to April in the Northern Hemisphere), sometimes appearing during snowmelt.

Difficulty: EXPERT

Growth: slow

Contam Risk: high

Cultivation Suitability

Preferred Substrates

Hardwood sticks (Hazel, Elm, Willow)

Hardwood sawdust

Decaying wood debris

Distribution

Native: Pacific Northwest (North America), California (North America), Europe (declining in some areas like UK where S. austriaca is more common), Asia, Parts of Australia (Southern Hemisphere populations). Widely distributed in the temperate Northern Hemisphere, though often confused with regionally dominant sibling species like S. austriaca (Eastern North America/Europe) and S. dudleyi (Eastern North America).

Known Strains (0)

No strains cataloged yet for this species.

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