This was maybe 6" to 8" wide on the forest floor. We mistook this for a piece of plastic discarded by careless hikers. When we went to pick it up to dispose of it properly, we were pleasantly surprised.
Sarcoscypha coccinea, commonly known as the scarlet elf cup, or the scarlet cup fungus, is a species of fungus in the family Sarcoscyphaceae. Common over much of the northern hemisphere, it grows on decaying branches in damp spots on forests floor and is usually found during cooler months, like winter and early spring.
