Scarlet Elf Cups (Sarcoscypha coccinea) and Ruby Elf Cups (Sarcoscypha austriaca) (indistinguishable without microscopy) are one of the few Spring mushrooms that are also edible. They have a mild taste (when overcooked, can become flavourless). They can be gently pan-fried in a little oil/ butter or used in a stew, and they make a nice addition to pasta and rice dishes, or fried eggs.
If you're out looking for them, Elf Cups enjoy wet, muddy places (often close to a stream), and they grow on fallen twigs, rotting wood, under dead leaves but can be easily spotted because of their bright red color.
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Intricate cascading roots on a Western Hemlock, Tsuga heterophylla.
Olympic National Park| 11-30-2023
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Collembola among Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa slime mold by Andy Sands
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Looking for a power boost? Don’t count on this fungus! 🍄 The fly agaric (Amanita muscaria) can be spotted on forest floors throughout the Northern Hemisphere, with a range that includes parts of North America and Europe. Its bright red cap may be alluring, but it’s also a warning. Traditionally used as an insecticide, this mushroom is considered toxic to humans. Consumption can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and hallucinations. In rare cases, it can even induce a coma-like state.
Photo: Holger Krisp, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
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