commonly known scarlet cup western scarlet cup species fungus family order fruit bodies small bright red cups wide atop slender whitish stem long saprobic species found growing hardwood twigs particularly partially buried moist shaded rich soil fungus distributed continental united_states east rocky_mountains central_america caribbean asia distinguished related species differences geographical distribution fruiting season fruit body structure phylogenetic analysis shown closely related species contain large oil spores species imperfect form fungus lacks sexually reproductive stage life cycle taxonomy naming fungus originally collected ohio named assigned current renamed species perceived similarity change adopted subsequent authors overturned naming applied red cup fungi later taxonomic revisions reinstated genus specific epithet derived latin word western refer distribution species western hemisphere commonly known scarlet cup western scarlet cup phylogeny phylogenetic relationships genus analyzed late 1990s analysis combined comparison sequences internal non functional traditional morphological characters spore features fruit body shape degree hair based analysis clade related taxa includes species species contain large oil spores contrast major clade containing type species characterized having smaller numerous species closely related known hawaii description depending age fruit bodies range shape deep cups discs maturity reach young specimens edges cup small rounded cup edges older specimens edges cut irregular segments cups rest atop stem small medium sized long thick attached centrally underside cup base stem covered translucent hairs fertile spore bearing inner surface cups hymenium bright red fades yellow orange dry smooth time fruit bodies fresh dry flesh thin distinctive odor taste value jamaican variety named var hymenium term refer tissue tissues containing hymenium fruit body outer tissue layer thin thickness tissue type known consisting parallel hyphae direction wide non walls middle tissue layer thick tissue layer irregularly interwoven hyphae distinct spaces hyphae structures develop cylindrical gradually tapering bases spored measure roughly cylindrical shapes usually blunt ends measure smooth surfaces usually contain large oil drops sterile hyphae present hymenium cylindrical thick barely enlarged straight form conspicuous network contain numerous red form imperfect fungi lack sexual stage life cycle typically reproduce process structures called cases sexual stage stage later identified relationship established species international code botanical nomenclature permits recognition names organisms based restricted state described form produces smooth specialized bear measuring roughly spherical smooth translucent hyaline similar species frequently confused distinguished species smaller fruit bodies smaller spores exterior differ seasonal geographic distribution fruits earlier year distributed eastern north_america midwest valleys pacific_coast europe africa australia india eastern north american species scarlet fruit bodies wide fruits early spring mistaken occurs habitat taller cups covered stiff white hairs cup fungus disc shaped stem fringed black hairs rim ecology habitat distribution saprobic fungus community fungi play important role forest ecosystem breaking complex molecules wood leaf litter smaller variety fruit bodies grow scattered grouped sticks twigs fragments dead wood usually somewhat partially buried soil forest litter prefers soil moist shaded high content like species prefers wood oak maple field guide notes preference united_states fruits late spring early autumn contrasts found usually spring fungus found north_america east rocky_mountains higher elevations central_america caribbean collected japan taiwan
Sarcoscypha occidentalis