Habitat and Substrate Mushrooms are found almost everywhere, but not all mushrooms are found in all kinds of habitat. Where they grow, such as coniferous forest, oak forest, etc. Some mushrooms develop in only one kind of habitat, such as a bog, a forest, or an open lawn or meadow. What they actually emerge from, such as peat, a log, or soil, is the mushrooms' substrate. Spore Prints Information about the structure and color of a mushroom's spore deposit helps in identification.
Most spores are too small to be examined without the help of a microscope.
Collectors can discover the spores' color by making a spore print. Cut the stem off the cap and place the cap gill side down on a piece of white paper. The cap must remain moist. Store the mounted cap in a plastic sandwich bag or a container with a lid. After four to eight hours, remove the cap from the paper and allow the print to dry for ten minutes.