Spore-deposit color keys the genus
Read the deposit,
not the cap.
A mature cap dropped gills-down overnight casts a radial sunburst of spores. Its color — rust, white, or purple-black — keys the genus. The dark board lets all three register at once.
Cortinarius
CORT-44 · RUST
9.2×5.4µmverrucose
Amanita
AMAN-07 · WHITE
8.0×6.1µmamyloid
Stropharia
STRO-19 · PURPLE
11.4×6.0µmsmooth
Pholiota
PHOL-31 · CLAY
7.6×4.2µmellipsoid
Lepiota
LEPI-02 · WHITE
6.4×3.8µmdextrinoid
Psathyrella
PSAT-58 · PURPLE
10.1×5.7µmpore