I am a creature of habit. I always tend to go to the same spots when I go for walks, whether in search of mushrooms or not. Last Sunday, I decided to expand my horizons to a nature reserve hidden in a corner of Cardiff, that I had heard was a lovely place to go.
Although it was a 30-minute walk to get there, it was definitely worth it. As soon as I pushed open the gate to enter the wood, a sense of calm and quiet washed over me. This was helped by the fact that it was the morning, and nobody was around. I saw only a couple of dog walkers in the entire time I was there. It was as though I had the whole space to myself; my little secret.
I was not expecting much in the way of fungi, due to the time of year and the fact that it had been dry for a few days. Nevertheless, I scanned the ground for signs of fungal life, all the while enjoying the sounds of birds, watching the bees and taking pictures of the hidden daffodils and snowdrops.
Whilst walking down a less-beaten path, a flash of red caught my eye. I looked over onto a moss-covered log off the path and saw three bright red fungi staring back at me. I knew immediately that they were Scarlet Elf Cups, or Sarcoscypha cocinea and rushed over to get a closer look.
Ironically, I had never heard of them until that very morning when, while sipping my tea in bed, I saw a picture of one on a website. Who knew I'd find some only a few hours later?
The log that the cups were growing on was hiding behind a large bramble, so it was difficult to get a clear picture, and I definitely got prickled a few times. Continuing along my walk, it wasn't long before I found another, more easily accessible cup, which I examined more closely.
The cup itself is surprisingly solid; it feels a bit like plastic. The inside is smooth and the outside is slightly hairy. It's attached to a fallen branch amongst leaf litter.
Characteristics
There are quite a few names for these fungi, but Scarlet Elf Cup is definitely my favourite, as it makes me think that an elf might take a rest in one of these red seats!
Although it was a 30-minute walk to get there, it was definitely worth it. As soon as I pushed open the gate to enter the wood, a sense of calm and quiet washed over me. This was helped by the fact that it was the morning, and nobody was around. I saw only a couple of dog walkers in the entire time I was there. It was as though I had the whole space to myself; my little secret.
I was not expecting much in the way of fungi, due to the time of year and the fact that it had been dry for a few days. Nevertheless, I scanned the ground for signs of fungal life, all the while enjoying the sounds of birds, watching the bees and taking pictures of the hidden daffodils and snowdrops.
Whilst walking down a less-beaten path, a flash of red caught my eye. I looked over onto a moss-covered log off the path and saw three bright red fungi staring back at me. I knew immediately that they were Scarlet Elf Cups, or Sarcoscypha cocinea and rushed over to get a closer look.
Ironically, I had never heard of them until that very morning when, while sipping my tea in bed, I saw a picture of one on a website. Who knew I'd find some only a few hours later?
The log that the cups were growing on was hiding behind a large bramble, so it was difficult to get a clear picture, and I definitely got prickled a few times. Continuing along my walk, it wasn't long before I found another, more easily accessible cup, which I examined more closely.
The cup itself is surprisingly solid; it feels a bit like plastic. The inside is smooth and the outside is slightly hairy. It's attached to a fallen branch amongst leaf litter.
Characteristics
Habitat: On dead (usually damp) wood, especially fallen twigs and branches.
Cap: Bright red and cup shaped, with a lighter, hairy outer. 1-5cm across.
Stem: Same colour as cap, quite short (3cm) and not usually visible.
Spore print: White
Season: Late winter to early spring
Edibility: Edible
There are quite a few names for these fungi, but Scarlet Elf Cup is definitely my favourite, as it makes me think that an elf might take a rest in one of these red seats!
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| Some snowdrops on my walk |
Disclaimer: I am not an expert. Never eat a mushroom you've found without confirmation that it is edible by an expert.
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