Gills, pores, teeth or ridges?
Look underneath the mushroom. Thin blades are gills; small openings are pores. Compare the four common surface types below, then photograph what you see.
Simplified drawings. These features help describe a mushroom; they do not establish its species or whether it is safe to eat.
Start with a photo. No account needed until you want to save or publish your record.
Explore a real dated find
A Marasmius cladophyllus observation from November 13, 2023 includes field photos and attribution to its original iNaturalist observer. Use it to see how a date, source and photos stay together.
View the 2023 observation and its sourceImported field record, not a Nature Lion customer submission or an eating recommendation.
How to look at the underside
Use good light and look closely underneath the cap. A small mirror can help you see beneath a mushroom without moving it. Try to photograph the surface sharply enough to distinguish blades, holes or spines. If the mushroom is too young, damaged or out of focus, record that uncertainty instead of guessing.
Gills and ridges can look similar
Gills are thin plates. Ridges are generally blunter folds, often branching or joining together. A distant photo can make them look alike. Take a closer image where the surface meets the stem, and keep the cap and whole mushroom in your other photos. One feature alone cannot confirm an identification.
What pores and teeth tell you
Pores look like small openings; teeth project outward as spines. These descriptions help you compare records and narrow the groups to investigate. They are not an edibility test. Record the surface colour and what the mushroom was growing on as well as its shape.
Take a useful set of photos
Start with the photo you have. When possible, add the cap from above, the underside, the full stem and base, and the surrounding habitat. Keep your notes in plain language: ‘small cream holes’ is more useful than a technical term you are unsure about. You can add further details to your saved record later.
Keep the find, even without a name
A photo, date and place make a useful starting record. Dr. MycoTek lets you begin before signing in. An account keeps your saved records together; AI guidance is optional and starts only when you request it. Any suggested name should stay separate from the features you actually observed.
What You Get
See It In Action
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
Put this guide into practice
Keep a useful record while the details are fresh.
Your records stay useful on their own; AI help is optional.
Start with a photo. No account needed until you want to save or publish your record.