Spore Printing 12/12/2015 I've always wanted to know more about foraging for food, and it seems logical to start with identification. Today I started working on mushroom identification, which often involves a technique called spore printing. Sometimes the only way to tell a poisonous mushroom from an edible one is by the color of the spores. I gathered a couple samples and placed them under cups with a little water. In about 24 hours, I should be able to see the color of the spores.
I've always wanted to know more about foraging for food, and it seems logical to start with identification. Today I started working on mushroom identification, which often involves a technique called spore printing. Sometimes the only way to tell a poisonous mushroom from an edible one is by the color of the spores. I gathered a couple samples and placed them under cups with a little water. In about 24 hours, I should be able to see the color of the spores.