By Spore Print

Mushrooms By Spore Print

The color of a mushroom's spores is one of the few features that does not lie. A spore print turns a guess into evidence, and sometimes it is the line between dinner and disaster.

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All mushrooms A-Z

Cream

Chanterelle, False Morel, Jack O'Lantern, Morel

4 species

White

Death Cap, Oyster Mushroom, Shiitake, Lion's Mane

4 species

What a spore print is

Leave a cap gill-side down on paper for a few hours and it drops a dusting of spores. The color of that dust is a stable, species-level clue.

Cap color fades and varies. Spore color is far more reliable.

Why it can save a life

Spore color separates families that otherwise look alike. A white spore print on a pale gilled mushroom is a reason to stop and check for an Amanita.

Warning

Take a spore print before eating any gilled mushroom you are unsure of. It is quick, and it catches mistakes a photo never will.

How to use this page

Pick a spore color to see the species that share it and what that color rules in or out.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a spore print?
A spore print is the dusting of spores a cap drops when left gill-side down on paper for a few hours. Its color is a stable, reliable identification feature.
How do I take a spore print?
Remove the stem, place the cap gill-side down on paper, cover it to stop drafts, and leave it a few hours. The spores fall and reveal their color. See our spore printing guide for detail.
Why does spore color matter for safety?
Because it separates species that otherwise look alike. A white spore print on a pale gilled mushroom, for example, is a reason to stop and rule out a deadly Amanita.

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