Taxonomy.2C naming.2C and phylogeny Sarcoscypha coccinea

drawings jean louis Émile boudier

obligate synonyms (different names same species based on 1 type) include lachnea coccinea gillet (1880), macroscyphus coccineus gray (1821), , peziza dichroa holmskjold (1799). taxonomic synonyms (different names same species, based on different types) include peziza aurantia schumacher (1803), peziza aurantiaca persoon (1822), peziza coccinea jacquin (1774), helvella coccinea schaeffer (1774), lachnea coccinea phillips (1887), geopyxis coccinea massee (1895), sarcoscypha coccinea saccardo ex durand (1900), plectania coccinea (fuckel ex seaver), , peziza cochleata batsch (1783).

sarcoscypha coccinea type species of genus sarcoscypha, having been first explicitly designated such in 1931 frederick clements , cornelius lott shear. 1990 publication revealed genus name sarcoscypha had been used carl f. p. von martius name of tribe in genus peziza; according rules of botanical nomenclature, meant generic name peziza had priority on sarcoscypha. address taxonomical dilemma, genus name sarcoscypha conserved against peziza, s. coccinea type species, avoid creation of new generic name scarlet cups , avoid disadvantageous loss of generic name used in popular , scientific literature . specific epithet coccinea derived latin word meaning deep red . species commonly known scarlet elf cup , scarlet elf cap , or scarlet cup fungus .

s. coccinea var. jurana described jean boudier (1903) variety of species having brighter , more orange-colored fruit body, , flattened or blunt-ended ascospores. today known distinct species s. jurana. s. coccinea var. albida, named george edward massee in 1903 (as geopyxis coccinea var. albida), has cream-colored rather red interior surface, otherwise identical typical variety.

within large area includes temperate alpine-boreal zone of northern hemisphere (europe , north america), s. coccinea had been recognized until 1980s. however, had been known since 1900s there existed several macroscopically indistinguishable taxa various microscopic differences: distribution , number of oil droplets in fresh spores; germination behavior; , spore shape. detailed analysis , comparison of fresh specimens revealed had been collectively called s. coccinea consisted of 4 distinct species: s. austriaca, s. coccinea, s. dudleyi, , s. jurana.

the phylogenetic relationships in genus sarcoscypha analyzed francis harrington in late 1990s. cladistic analysis combined comparisons of sequences of internal transcribed spacer in non-functional rna fifteen traditional morphological characteristics, such spore features, fruit body shape, , degree of curliness of hairs form tomentum. based on analysis, s. coccinea part of clade includes species s. austriaca, s. macaronesica, s. knixoniana , s. humberiana. of these sarcoscypha species have numerous, small oil droplets in spores. closest relative, s. macaronesica, found on canary islands , madeira; harrington hypothesized recent common ancestor of 2 species originated in europe , later dispersed macaronesian islands.