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Sarcoscypha coccinea (older name: Plectania coccinea)
Concave, tiny beige colored cups - the largest about the size of an adult small finger nail - with brilliant scarlet or fresh-blood colored interiors.
Forest bottom, in damp soil covered with decayed leaves.
Sarcoscypha coccinea would be my best guess, and as far as I can tell, the description for it matches your spotting quite well (although I am no expert and there could be one that matches it even better!). It fruits near winter, has a more vivid and colorful red interior, outer surface losing its original color due to age, inrolled margin, stalk cap be present or absent depending on how deep the stick (food source) is buried. What seems off is the size and absence of hairs; the species I mentioned is 2 - 5 cm (I would guess the largest one in your find is 1.5 cm) and has minute white hairs on the outside. Good luck with ID! Hope this is a good start in the right direction.
Spotted on Jan 8, 2012
Submitted on Jan 8, 2012
