Is this 'Eyelash Cup'? ID needed please.

[sunnydale]

Not too sure about this, as it doesn't have the brown hairs around the edge of the cups

[KeenTeen17]

that looks to me like scarlet elf cup - sarchosypha sp. Is it now that you found it or last spring because thats the usual time they come up

[goosey]

Hi, what about Sarcoscypha austriaca?

[KeenTeen17]

I think your right with that goosey. S. austriaca is the commonest one but I think there are more uncommon ones distinguished by microscopy.

[sunnydale]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

that looks to me like scarlet elf cup - sarchosypha sp. Is it now that you found it or last spring because thats the usual time they come up

Yes it was taken last year, probably during the Spring. I can't remember!....but just thought it looked pretty against the green moss.
It's nice to be able to post it somewhere where it's of interest to others

[Chris Yeates]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

I think your right with that goosey. S. austriaca is the commonest one but I think there are more uncommon ones distinguished by microscopy.

KT is absolutely correct Sarcoscypha coccinea was the name used for these beautiful fungi until relatively recently; however see the following comment in the later edition of Roger Phillips' book:

"Note in my first book this fungus was named Sarcoscypha coccinea (Fr.) Lamb. Unfortunately I do not have the specimens of this fungus in my herbarium, but Dr Brian Spooner of Kew thinks it more likely to be S. austriaca, which has now been recognized as the more common of the two British species."

This underlines the importance of collecting dried - 'herbarium' - material of interesting finds . . . .

there is actually a third British species - Sarcoscypha jurana but perhaps its status as 'British' is not certain?

in any case a nice photo of a beautiful cup-fungus and if you call it Scarlet Elf-cup you won't be wrong

more power to the Ascomycetes!

Chris

[sunnydale]

Thanks guys, you're all so knowledgeable!

[leifus]

Originally Posted by KeenTeen17

that looks to me like scarlet elf cup - sarchosypha sp. Is it now that you found it or last spring because thats the usual time they come up

agreed!