🍄 Scarlet Elfcup – The Pop of Winter Colour
Sarcoscypha austriaca – the Scarlet Elfcup gets its name from its vibrant red hue, and it's cup-like appearance. Due to it's size, and being found in woodlands, you can well imagine it being used as a cup by an elf or fairy to drink their morning dew! This fungus adds such a lovely colour to the winter landscape, and is always a delight to find. I can still remember how happy I was to find my first cup, it chased away those winter blues for sure! If you are lucky and time it right, you can gently breathe on the cups and trigger their spore release. I have yet to capture it on camera, but am determined to do so one year.
🍄 Key Identification Features:
- Cup colour: Smooth bright red inner surface, with a paler velvety outer surface.
- Cup dimensions: Width: 2cm to 7cm. Height: 1cm to 3cm.
- Smell: No distinctive smell.
- Spore print: White.
🍃 Where to Find It:
Look on the floor for this fungus as it likes to grow on fallen dead hardwood in winter. Mostly on twigs and branches, and especially among moss and damp habitats. Once you spot one, there are usually others nearby!
⚠️ Lookalikes:
- Sarcoscypha coccinea – also known as the Ruby Elfcup. They are identical unless you have a microscope. However, they can be used in the same way so it's not much of an issue
- Aleuria aurantia - also known as Orange Peel Fungus. Larger, more orange, and grows on soil instead of deadwood. Also edible (but not tasty), so another that is not much of an issue.
Use all ID features in combination, and when in doubt – leave it out or get a second opinion from someone experienced.
🍽️ Culinary Uses:
Like most mushrooms there's a host of ways to use the Scarlet Elfcup. Some people will use it raw as garnish due to its visual appeal, or finely chop it up and add to salad. Most people lightly cook or steam it to avoid potential stomach sensitivities (every one is different) It can be added to pizza and quiche where it's a great visual replacement for pepperoni etc. Brendan quite likes it lightly fried with garlic and added to pasta or noodles. It's also a great addition to ferments because its colour really pops in the jar.
So there you have it – a bright and cheery fungus to forage in winter! Get out there, trust your eyes, and getting spotting those red beacons!
Have you met this mushroom in the wild? Managed to trigger its spore release? Reply in the comments below, tag us on social media, or drop us an email - we’d love to see your finds and creations.