Scarlet Elf Cup Pin

The first pin in our collection.

Sarcoscypha coccinea,

commonly called the Scarlet Elf Cup, is a small cup-shaped fungus with a bright scarlet interior and a pale, fuzzy outer surface. It grows across the Northern Hemisphere in damp, shaded woodlands, usually on fallen hardwood twigs — hazel, willow, elm, beech, and sycamore are common hosts. The cups are often half-buried in moss and leaf litter, which can make them easy to miss despite the color.

Scarlet Elf Cups fruit in late winter and early spring. They're one of the few fungi that can grow in below-freezing temperatures, which is why they're often spotted as snow is still melting. They're saprobic — they feed on and decompose dead wood — and typically grow in small clusters rather than singly.

One unusual trait: they make a soft puffing sound when releasing their spores. Thousands of microscopic asci discharge at once, producing a visible (and audible) cloud.

The Artwork

Originally hand-painted, then adapted into the final graphic. All artwork in our collection is human-made.

Pin Specs

• Size: 0.75"
• Hard enamel, die-struck
• Silver metal plating