Orange Peel or Scarlet Elf Cup ?

[Lancashire Lad]

Found these today in two different woodlands, and would appreciate confirmation of ID.

I initially thought the first was Orange Peel - (Aleuria aurantia), until I later found the second. I'm now thinking that they are both Scarlet Elf Cup - (Sarcoscypha austriaca), because the colouring seems to be more or less the same on both, and too intensely red for the first to be Orange Peel.

First - Each about 25mm tall x 40mm diameter. Growing on a small twig in a moss bank beside a stream.


Second much smaller, - about 20mm tall x about 15mm diameter, but again growing on wood substrate in moss on a very wet banking.


Regards
Mike.

[kiff]

Scarlet elf cup

[leifus]

im confused but i would go for the first as orange peel and the second as scarlet elf cup

[diggleken]

I agree with Kiff Mike - I also think the white stem showing in the second pic rules out S. Coccinea as a possibility.
Cheers
Ken

[NickCantle]

Both are 100% Sarcoscypha Aleuria aurantia is a real orange!

[cybershot]

Yes Mike, from your images and description of environment you are right that it is one of the Sarcoscypha and more than likely S. austriaca. But whether we amateurs will distinguish between the two species in the field is another matter. To repeat an earlier post on the subject in reply to Ken, 'macroscopically they are virtually indistinguishable as I understand it, with the microscopic inspection of the spores and surface hyphae being the determiner.' It's interesting that even the A to Z, along side other popular references defaults to S. coccinea for Scarlet Elfcup when it is now generally held that the former is more probable.

When in future you are lucky enough to come across Aleuria aurantia - Orange Peel Fungus, the experience will, I think, resolve any doubts you have in telling the two apart.

Cheers

David

[NickCantle]

Originally Posted by cybershot

When in future you are lucky enough to come across Aleuria aurantia - Orange Peel Fungus, the experience will, I think, resolve any doubts you have in telling the two apart.

Which reiterates both clearly and importantly, that field experience is equally important as good literature.

[cybershot]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

Which reiterates both clearly and importantly, that field experience is equally important as good literature.

How quickly in the early days did we learn that lesson together on forays buddy !

[NickCantle]

More times than I can remember, but the moments each have significance don't they? If you're reading a book, there's nothing physical and material that you can compare to. When in the field, you can just pick, pull it apart, smell it, taste it, test it for chemical reactions, check for bruising, see if the gills exude milk, if so, what taste? ... I needn't go on. I will always be the forayer who wants to be outside looking at and touching my subject.

[cybershot]

Originally Posted by NickCantle

More times than I can remember, but the moments each have significance don't they? If you're reading a book, there's nothing physical and material that you can compare to. When in the field, you can just pick, pull it apart, smell it, taste it, test it for chemical reactions, check for bruising, see if the gills exude milk, if so, what taste? ... I needn't go on. I will always be the forayer who wants to be outside looking at and touching my subject.

And, as with the case in question here, realizing and recognizing the different habitats and substrates which are definite pointers to differentiating the genus: Growing on soil or moss covered branches for example. It is so important to relate as much information as possible about a find when searching for answers.