Spore of mushroom Macrolepiota procera (in Lugol ...

The image shows two brown spores against a white background with a small shadow on the bottom left. The brown coloration of the spore is likely due to the staining process using Lugol solution, which is commonly used for staining fungi and other microorganisms.

The top spore appears as a brown, circular disc or oval shape, while the lower one looks like an elongated oval. Due to the poor image quality, it is challenging to discern any finer details about these spores.

**Spore Identification**

The caption identifies the spore as belonging to Macrolepiota procera, commonly known as the parasol mushroom. This species is native to Europe but has been introduced to North America and other parts of the world. The image was captured in Sam Houston National Forest, Texas, which suggests that the spore may have originated from a local population of M. procera.

**Lugol Staining**

The Lugol solution used for staining the spores is a mixture of iodine and potassium iodide. This solution stains polysaccharides, such as chitin, in fungal cell walls brown or black, making them visible under a microscope. The use of Lugol solution allows researchers to study the morphology of fungi at the microscopic level.

**Conclusion**

In conclusion, the image shows two brown spores that are likely from Macrolepiota procera, a mushroom species native to Europe but introduced to North America and other parts of the world. The spores were stained using Lugol solution, which highlights their cell walls and allows for their observation under a microscope.

**Final Answer**

The final answer is: **Macrolepiota procera (parasol mushroom)**. – AI vision