 Sarcoscypha occidentalis , commonly known as the stalked scarlet cup or the western scarlet cup , is a species of fungus in the family Sarcoscyphaceae of the Pezizales order . Fruit bodies have small , bright red cups up to 2 cm ( 0 @.@ 8 in ) wide atop a slender whitish stem that is between 1 to 3 cm ( 0 @.@ 4 to 1 @.@ 2 in ) long . A saprobic species , it is found growing on hardwood twigs , particularly those that are partially buried in moist and shaded humus @-@ rich soil . The fungus is distributed in the continental United States east of the Rocky Mountains , Central America , the Caribbean , and Asia . It is distinguished from the related species S. coccinea and S. austriaca by differences in geographical distribution , fruiting season , and fruit body structure . Phylogenetic analysis has shown that it is most closely related to other Sarcoscypha species that contain large oil droplets in their spores . The species Molliardiomyces occidentalis is an imperfect form of the fungus that lacks a sexually reproductive stage in its life cycle . 
