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Spore Printing

Spore prints are a simple yet valuable tool for identifying mushrooms. By collecting spores on a surface, you can observe their color and pattern, which helps distinguish between species. Follow these steps to successfully take a spore print.

1. What are spores?

Mushroom spores are tiny reproductive cells that function like seeds for fungi. They are released from the gills, pores, or other structures of the mushroom and are carried by wind, water, or animals to new locations. When spores land in a suitable environment, they can germinate and grow into new fungal networks called mycelium, eventually producing more mushrooms. Spore prints help identify mushrooms because different species produce spores in distinct colors, such as white, brown, black, or even pink. 

The gills of a mushroom

Gills

The pores of a mushroom

Pores

The pits of a morel mushroom

Pits

The spines of a hedgehog mushroom

2. Materials Needed

  • A fresh, mature mushroom 
    • Old or dried out specimens will probably be out of spores 
    • Immature mushrooms may not have made spores yet, or may be blocked by a veil 
  • A flat surface 
  • Something to catch the spores
    • Tin foil works best but paper can work if it contrasts with the color of the spores 
  • A bowl or glass large enough to cover the mushroom cap 
    • Mushrooms with large domed caps can act as their own bowl 
The veil of a gilled mushroom
Veil

3. Set Up

  • Lay the gills, pores, or pits down on your tin foil 
    • You may have to remove the cap from the stem ​
  • Cover the cap with the bowl or glass 
  • Wait 6-12 hours, I typically leave them overnight ​

4. Observe

  • Remove the bowl
  • Remove the mushroom
  • Compare the color you see with the spore color of the mushroom you think you have found
A spore print on a picnic table

5. Does it have to take so long? 

Not always, there are a couple of ways you might be able to spores in the wild: 
​
  • When the gills, pores, or pits are light in color and the spores are dark in color you can often see them right away:
Spores staining the gills of a mushroom

When the mushrooms are clustered and the cap color contrasts with the spores, you may be able to see spores on the lower caps:   

Many honey mushrooms growing in a cluster

6. Optional: Preservation

Spore prints are pretty and can be preserved by spraying with a fixative like hairspray or my favorite: Krylon Acrylic Coating (paid link)​​

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