Spore prints are used for three main purposes: mushroom cultivation, mushroom identification (as different mushrooms have different colored spores), and, of course, art
For mushrooms with gills (spores lie on the gill surface) and mushrooms with pores (spores inside the pores underneath the cap), follow these instructions.
Cut off the stem and place the cap, with the gills facing down, on a piece of aluminum foil, a piece of paper, an index card or a glass microscope slide.
Put a drop of water on the top of the cap to help release the spores.
Cover the cap with a paper cup or glass and leave for 2-24 hours, depending on the humidity and the freshness of the mushroom. The spores will fall on the paper, foil or glass, making a spore print pattern.
To study the spores with a microscope, scrape off some of the spores from your spore print with a needle or scalpel onto a microscope slide. Place a drop of water on the spores and cover with a cover slip.
To preserve your spore print, spray them lightly with an artist spray or hair spray. Hold the spray at least 12 to 15 inches away from the print.
My favourite mushrooms to spore print are Amanitas the spores are always crisp & white on dark paper.
Many people think that you should not touch a mushroom that is toxic because it could lead to a fatal reaction. This is a big misconception; while mycotoxins can be absorbed through the skin, you would have to handle an extremely large amount of toxic mushrooms for it to be fatal. (When I say extremely large, I mean hundreds of pounds in a day.)
There are a few rare cases where people are allergic to mushrooms, but overall, it is safe to touch toxic and nontoxic mushrooms. I have handled one of the most deadly mushrooms, the Destroying Angel (Amanita phalloides), and I experienced no negative effects from simply touching it. Next time you come across a mushroom, feel free to give it a little pat-pat on the cap!
I am such a tactile person and when mushroom hunting, I seem to have to touch every specimen I find! Making spore prints is my favourite activity in peak mushy season. Each print is so incredibly unique looks like an iris
Spore prints in art
