A common shelf fungus with concentric bands of contrasting color — brown, tan, blue-gray, white — resembling a wild turkey's tail. One of the most-studied medicinal mushrooms in the world.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
Trametes versicolor – also known as Coriolus versicolor and Polyporus versicolor – is a common polypore mushroom found throughout the world. Owing to its shape being similar to that of a wild turkey's tail feathers, T. versicolor is most commonly referred to as turkey tail.
Source: Wikipedia — Trametes versicolor Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Small fan-shaped brackets with concentric color bands (brown, tan, white, blue-gray) resembling turkey tails. Pore surface, not gilled.
Similar species. False Turkey Tail (Stereum ostrea) — gills/wrinkled underside instead of pores. Other polypores.
Voice. N/A
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Saprotrophic — decomposes hardwood logs and stumps.
Behavior. Most-studied medicinal mushroom (PSK/PSP polysaccharides). Adjunct cancer treatment in Japan and Europe for decades.
§ Range
Throughout North America
§ Habitat
Decaying hardwood logs, stumps, dead branches
§ Threats
Loss of dead-wood habitat, removal of fallen logs from forests, overharvest.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the turkey tail is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Leave dead logs in place. Don't over-collect. Use store-bought mycelium for medicinal experiments.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Trametes versicolor
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Trametes versicolor
- iNaturalist · taxon 117800
- IUCN Red List — search for Trametes versicolor
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Trametes versicolor
§ Sources cited
- North American Mycological Association
- Mycological Society of America
- iNaturalist
