What is this burst of orange in the leafless April forest?
Scarlet Elfcup radiates from the leaf litter, a harbinger of spring! This mushroom grows on fallen branches from deciduous trees. Around one or two inches across, it is finely suited for an elven goblet. Try blowing on the cup; if it is in just the right stage of maturity, you might see and hear the release of a spore cloud!
Later on in the spring and summer, be on the lookout for a similarly colored tiny mushroom, only ¼ to ¾ inch wide, growing on decaying wood. The dark hairs around the edges give this mushroom its name – Eyelash Cup!
