From: ir@ene.nu   
      
   On Sun, 16 Apr 2006 06:06:11 -0500, "Kurt"    
   wrote:   
      
   >The scarlet cups I found are commonly called the 'Scarlet Elf Cup'   
   >(sarcoscypha coccinea) and grows on decayed twigs, branches, and wood on the   
   >forest floor. (northern Minnesota)   
   >Kurt    http://i2.tinypic.com/vg4mxk.jpg   
      
   Well, yes, S. coccinea is the name that is commonly used in a wide   
   sense - and in most of the field guides and pictures on the web.   
      
   What is known in your area so far, is not S. coccinea, but three other   
   species.   
   S. occidentalis: very small cups, hardly exceeding 2 cm, grows on   
   maple (doesn't look like the one in your picture).   
      
   S. dudleyi and S. austriaca: To tell them apart, you need to identify   
   the trees they are growing on. S. dudleyi is rare on limetree, while   
   the more common S. austriaca grows on a wider range of trees.   
   I think it's hard to see the difference in a microscope without a   
   large experience with these species.   
      
   Irene Andersson   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)