pores are microscopic organisms that fungi, such as mushrooms and moulds, use to reproduce. The interesting thing about spores is how diverse they are. They come in different shapes and sizes and can even be different colours.

Not only are the actual spores unique, but the way they are produced is unique as well. Each type of fungus produces unique spores in unique ways. This is how some scientists, called mycologists, can identify a sample.

Spores can be produced in chains such as the picture below. The spores in the first sample are a dark brown colour and are round. The second sample has clear, oval spores. These are all characteristic attributes.

Another characteristic attribute of spores is if they have walls or not. These walls are called septates. If you look at a spore, it is easy to see if the spores have one or more septates. They look like little walls that divide the spores into different sections.

Most spores are rounded and a lot of them are clear. This is when mycologists need to look at the variety of spore producing structures which can be like any of the pictures below! They can look like tree branches and produce spores like a tree branch budding, they can look like dandelion fluff and produces spores like that, or they can produce them in little elongated sacs. These are just some of the many ways spore are produced!

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