Orange peel fungus or Scarlet elf cup

The fruiting body is cup-shaped, irregular, 2–10 cm across (sometimes up to 12). When young it is closed and globular; as it grows it opens, first into a deep cup, then becomes saucer-shaped, and in old age it crumples and curls at the edges. The inner surface is bright orange, smooth and shiny. The outer surface is paler, pale yellowish-orange, finely granular.

The fruiting body is shaped like a cup or a deep bowl 1.5-6 cm across and 1-3 cm tall. The inner (upper) surface is bright cinnabar red, smooth and glossy. The outer (lower) surface is lighter, pinkish-cream to whitish, with a fine white velvety down. The cup's rim is even, slightly wavy in mature specimens.

The spore-bearing layer lines the inner, concave surface of the cup. Cup fungi have no gills or tubes — spores form in asci directly on the surface. Spore print white.

The spore-bearing layer sits on the inner surface of the cup, red and smooth. Unlike gilled mushrooms, there are no gills or tubes here — it's a typical discomycete with an open, disc-like hymenium. When ripe, the spores are released in a "puff" at a sudden jolt — a striking sight you can see by blowing on the cup on a sunny day.

There is no stem, or it is very short, a small bump at the base of the cup. The fruiting body sits directly or almost directly on the soil.

The stem is short, 1-3 cm tall, 0.3-0.5 cm thick, lateral or central, often barely visible under the leaf litter. Its color is whitish to pink. The mushroom often looks like a "cup sitting right on the twig".

The flesh is thin, waxy-brittle, orange or paler than the outer surface. Very fragile — it falls apart at the slightest pressure.

Flesh thin, gelatinous, springy and crisp, reddish (like the cup), doesn't change color when damaged. Fresh, it's soft, and feels like a thin sheet of rubber. When it dries it becomes brittle and dark red.

The smell is faint, neutral or slightly sweetish, with no distinct notes. The taste is mild, bland, not bitter.

The smell is faint, mushroomy, slightly earthy, with no distinctive notes. The taste of the flesh is mild and neutral, with no acridity or bitterness.