Another structure used for spore dispersal instead of a gill is known as a pore. Mushroom pores appear as small holes on the underside of the cap.
identify mushrooms - poresThese holes are actually the ends of a series of tubes within the mushroom cap. Spores are produced on the sides of these tubes and eventually they are released where they fall down the tube, out the pore, and into the air. Wind, animals, and insects will further carry them from there.
When trying to identify mushrooms, be sure to note the pore surface. Traits such as color, pore size, and pore pattern may help indicate the species. A key or guidebook will help you narrow it down, although remember that certain features may change as a mushroom ages. (Don't worry though, gills will never change into pores