Microstoma protracta

Photographed by Mark Denecke

Microstoma protracta (also known as Red Spring Mushroom)
One of a group of winter to spring mushrooms called the Scarlet Cups. This cluster of small (1cm+/-) fungi was found on buried wood in a creekside woodland of poplar and birch. The stalk arises from a hard, elongated, root-like structure. According to David Arora, it is widely distributed but rather rare.