Wikipedia:Today's featured article/March 14, 2016

Sarcoscypha coccinea, commonly known as the scarlet elf cup, is a species of fungus in the family Sarcoscyphaceae of the order Pezizales. Widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, it has been found in Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America, and Australia. It grows on decaying sticks and branches in damp spots on forest floors, generally buried under leaf litter or in the soil. The cup-shaped fruit bodies are usually produced during the cooler months of winter and early spring. The brilliant red interiors of the cups, from which the common and scientific names are derived, contrast with the lighter exteriors. The edibility of the fruit bodies is not clearly established, but their small size, tough texture and insubstantial fruitings would dissuade most people from collecting for the table. The fungus has been used medicinally by the Oneida Indians, and as a colorful component of table decorations in England. The species Molliardiomyces eucoccinea is an imperfect form of the fungus that lacks a sexually reproductive stage in its life cycle. (Full article...)