Microscopic examination of spores

[RobSutton]

Can anybody point me in the right direction - I'm going to have a go at identifying a Coprinus species from it's spores - I'm not sure if it is C.micaceus or C.silvaticus. Do I need to prepare or stain the spores in any way or would putting some into a blob of water on a microscope slide be enough?

Thanks in advance.

[Stewy]

Fungus Ken is your man on this one.

[CloudedYellow]

Originally Posted by RobSutton

Can anybody point me in the right direction - I'm going to have a go at identifying a Coprinus species from it's spores - I'm not sure if it is C.micaceus or C.silvaticus. Do I need to prepare or stain the spores in any way or would putting some into a blob of water on a microscope slide be enough?

Thanks in advance.

Water should be enough. I started off using a blue food dye which worked reasonably well and have since bought some Congo Red but if I just want to quickly check spore size/shape I use tap water.

Are you able to measure the spore size? I have not seen silvaticus but according to Phillips the spores are larger and may be ornamented.

Richard

[Fungus Ken]

You don't need to stain Coprinus spores. They appear dark brown under the microscope and staining doesn't add anything useful.

The spores will separate Coprinus micaceus from Coprinus silvaticus because the latter does have warty spores with the warts aligned in horizontal bands but you will need a high power (minimum of x400 but preferably x1000 oil immersion to see the warts and you may need to rack up and down with the fine focus to be sure of what you are seeing.

Technically the separation between these species is actually based on Coprinus silvaticus having setules on the cap. These are absent in Coprinus micaceus.

Ken

[RobSutton]

Thanks Ken, Richard and Stewy - checked the spores and they were smooth and had no warts and what seems to be a characteristic "mitre" shape so Coprinus micaceus seems to fit.