Father Pitt believes this is some species of Sarcoscypha, but further than that he is unwilling to go (and apparently even mycologists have trouble unless you give them a microscope), and he may be wrong about the genus anyway. But it’s a remarkably bright red. It was growing on a stick in the leaf litter near the Trillium Trail in Fox Chapel.
Spring rains make streams gush in Fox Chapel. Above, Stony Camp Run along the Trillium Trail.
A high waterfall along the Trillium Trail.
Roots of a fallen tree beside the stream.
Sycamore Run in Scott Park.
Flowering trees at Liberty Center, and views of other landmarks through the flowers.
Penn Station.
Looking up Grant Street.
The federal courthouse.
Looking down Liberty Avenue.
Ozark Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) grows very happily in Pittsburgh, and the first warm winter day from January onwards it will open up these curious little flowers. If you cut some twigs in the cold weather and bring them in to put in a vase, the flowers will open in a day or two and start filling the room with perfume.
