Spore print

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A spore print on a piece of paper.

Spore prints are powdery deposits produced by mushrooms which are made of their spores. They are obtained by allowing spores of a fungal fruiting body (mushroom) to fall onto a surface underneath, most commonly heavy duty paper such as white-colored card or construction paper. Spore printing is an important diagnostic method in most handbooks, as they allow the user to more clearly identify mushrooms. The spore print also can be used for making a spore syringe or cultivating the mushrooms. For mushroom cultivating, however, the spore printing process must be done in a sterile and clean area, such as a sterile glove box.