Michael Davis
Turkey tail mushrooms, or Trametes versicolor, are commonly found in North America. They are known for their medicinal properties and are often used by beginners in foraging. These mushrooms grow in clusters on fallen hardwood logs and stumps and are characterised by their multicoloured caps with distinct bands of colours. While the top side of the cap has a velvety texture due to the presence of fine hairs, the underside features tiny pores that contain spores for reproduction. Notably, turkey tail mushrooms do not possess gills, which is a distinguishing feature from other common fungi.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Trametes versicolor, Coriolus versicolor, Polyporus versicolor |
| Common Names | Turkey Tail, Cloud Mushroom, PSK, PSP, Yun Zhi |
| Type | Polypore Mushroom |
| Underside | Pores, not gills |
| Pore Colour | White to Pale Brown |
| Pore Size | 0.375 mm |
| Cap Width | 1-4 inches |
| Cap Shape | Semicircular to Spoon-shaped |
| Cap Texture | Leathery, hairy and smooth zones |
| Cap Colour | Black-green, Grey-blue, Grey-brown, Ochre-rust |
| Spore Print Colour | White |
| Spore Shape | Cylindrical, smooth |
| Stalk | Absent |
| Growth | Plane, not curved |
| Season | May-December |
| Edibility | Not edible, but used for tea, tinctures, and extracts |
| Medicinal Uses | Used as a supplement to cancer treatments |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
How to identify turkey tail mushrooms
Turkey tail mushrooms (Trametes versicolor) are some of the most prolific mushrooms in North America and can be found all over the world. They are neither toxic nor poisonous and have been used as traditional medicine for centuries. Here are some ways to identify them:
Colour
Turkey tail mushrooms have a rich brown colour, similar to the feathers of a turkey. They also have multiple stripes in various colours, including black-green, grey-blue, grey-brown, and ochre-rust, that follow the contours of the mushroom's shape.
Underside
The underside of the mushroom should be white. If it is turning brown, it is not a turkey tail mushroom. The underside should also have tiny pores, which contain spores that the fungus releases for reproduction. These pores are barely visible at 0.375 mm, and a ballpoint pen should cover at least 3–8 pores.
Texture
Turkey tail mushrooms have a dry, leathery texture, making them tough and not ideal for cooking. They are thin, flexible, and velvety to the touch.
Habitat
Turkey tail mushrooms grow in clusters on dead logs and stumps of deciduous trees. They are an important decomposer in forest environments, breaking down wood and returning nutrients to the soil.
Lookalikes
Be aware of false turkey tail mushrooms, such as Stereum ostrea, Stereum hirstum, and Trichaptum abietinum. These look-alikes may have smooth undersides or gills instead of pores and often have algae growing on them.
Mushrooms: Nature's Ancient Aphrodisiac?
You may want to see also
Distinguishing between true and false turkey tails
Turkey tail mushrooms are one of the most common forest mushrooms and can be found abundantly on dead trees and logs in the wild. They are known for their health-supporting compounds and are often consumed as tea. However, some other wild mushrooms look very similar to turkey tail mushrooms, commonly known as "false turkey tail mushrooms". These include Stereum ostrea, Stereum hirstum, and Trichaptum abietinum.
Underside Appearance
The key identification feature of the false turkey tail fungus is its underside. A true turkey tail mushroom is classified as a polypore, meaning it has fine pores on its underside. These pores are barely visible at 0.375 mm, and there should be about 3-8 pores per millimeter. To identify the pore size, you can use a ballpoint pen; the fine tip of the pen should cover at least 3-8 pores. False turkey tail mushrooms, on the other hand, have a smooth underside or gills. S. ostrea and S. hirstum have yellow, smooth undersides, while the true turkey tail has a white underside.
Colour
Turkey tail mushrooms can come in a wide range of colours, from red and brown to dark blue and purple hues. The cap of a true turkey tail mushroom will have distinct colour zones that aren't all one colour, resembling a turkey's tail. The margin is always the lightest in colour and tends to be vibrant white.
Texture and Thickness
The cap of a true turkey tail mushroom should feel fuzzy, velvety, or finely hairy to the touch due to the very thin hairs on its surface. Additionally, fresh turkey tail mushrooms are thin (approximately 1-3 mm) and flexible, bending easily. As the mushroom ages, it becomes tough and inflexible.
Growth Pattern
Turkey tail mushrooms tend to have plane growth, especially when growing on the side of a log. In contrast, Stereum will almost always start to curve upward at the edges.
Presence of Algae
False turkey tail mushrooms, specifically S. ostrea, are often found with algae growing on them.
Mushroom Picking: Best Times and Seasons
You may want to see also
The underside of turkey tail mushrooms
The underside of a turkey tail mushroom is a key factor in distinguishing it from its look-alikes. Unlike most other common fungi, turkey tail mushrooms do not have gills on their undersides. Instead, they have tiny pores, which are barely visible to the naked eye, ranging from 0.375 mm in size. The pore surface can vary in colour from white to pale brown, and the entire underside is covered in these pores, with an area of one inch (2.5 cm) containing anywhere from 75 to 150 pores.
These pores are an important feature of the turkey tail mushroom, as they contain spores that the fungus releases for reproduction. This characteristic places the turkey tail in the polypore family, which includes all mushrooms with pores on their undersides. The presence of these pores is a notable difference between the turkey tail and its impostors, such as the false turkey tail (Stereum ostrea), which has a smooth underside.
The underside of the turkey tail can also be used to distinguish it from other similar-looking mushrooms like the violet-toothed mushroom, which has tooth-like structures, and the gilled polypore (Lenzites betulina), which has a gill-like underside. While the turkey tail's pores may be difficult to see without magnification, they can be identified by using a simple tool like a ballpoint pen, with its fine tip covering at least 3–8 pores.
The underside of the turkey tail mushroom is an important aspect of its identification, ensuring that foragers can distinguish it from its look-alikes. While some of these impostors may not be toxic, they may not possess the same health-supporting compounds that make the turkey tail mushroom so valued. Therefore, it is crucial to correctly identify the turkey tail by examining its underside and other characteristics to ensure the desired medicinal benefits.
Mushroom Mystery: What Counts and Why?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Medicinal uses of turkey tail mushrooms
Turkey tail mushrooms (Trametes versicolor or Coriolus versicolor) are well-known medicinal mushrooms with a long history of use in traditional medicine. They are packed with antioxidants and other beneficial compounds that offer a range of health benefits. Here are some of the medicinal uses of turkey tail mushrooms:
Boosting Immunity and Fighting Infections
Turkey tail mushrooms are widely known for their immune-boosting properties. They contain polysaccharide krestin (PSK) and polysaccharide peptide (PSP), powerful compounds that strengthen the immune system and help fight infections and diseases. The mushroom's high concentration of polysaccharides primes immune cells to protect the body against pathogens.
Cancer Treatment Support
Turkey tail mushrooms have been used alongside standard cancer treatments such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation in countries like Japan and China. The PSK and PSP in turkey tail mushrooms may help slow cancer growth, improve the response to chemotherapy, and enhance the efficacy of cancer treatments. Studies suggest that PSK can help repair immune cell damage caused by chemotherapy.
Improving Gut Health
Turkey tail mushrooms are believed to support gut health and improve gut bacteria balance, which can positively impact overall health and immunity.
Reducing Inflammation
Turkey tail mushrooms have anti-inflammatory properties and may help reduce inflammation in the body.
Enhancing Athletic Performance
Research suggests that turkey tail extract may improve exercise performance and reduce markers of fatigue. It has also been associated with lower blood sugar levels at rest and post-exercise.
While turkey tail mushrooms are generally considered safe for most people, it is important to consult a healthcare professional before consuming them, especially if you have any pre-existing health conditions or are taking medication.
Where to Find the Best Fried Mushrooms
You may want to see also
Where to find turkey tail mushrooms
Turkey tail mushrooms are relatively easy to find in the wild. They are a common forest mushroom, often found on dead trees, logs, and stumps. They are a powerful decomposer of stumps and logs, contributing to healthy forests by recycling nutrients back into the soil.
These mushrooms can be found in a variety of locations, from your local woodlot, park, or forest. They are common across the northern hemisphere, from North America to Europe and Asia. They can tolerate bright light and open forest conditions, so you don't have to stick to shaded areas when searching for them.
When identifying turkey tail mushrooms, look for their distinctive shape and colours. They get their name from their resemblance to the tail feathers of a turkey, with concentric zones of varying colours, including black, brown, white, and cream. The growing margin is always the lightest in colour. They are relatively small and thin, ranging from 1 to 3 inches wide and 1 to 4 mm thick. The underside is white to light grey, covered in dense, small pores that darken with age and release white spores.
It's important to accurately identify turkey tail mushrooms to avoid look-alikes. Stereum ostrea, or "false turkey tail," is often mistaken for the real thing. One way to tell the difference is by checking the underside; a true turkey tail fungus has visible pores on its white underside, while S. ostrea has a yellow, smooth underside.
If you prefer to buy fresh turkey tail mushrooms, they are available at online marketplaces that specialise in foraged food and wild edibles, such as Foraged. Fresh mushrooms can be expensive, so be prepared to pay a premium. When purchasing, look for firm mushrooms with a fresh, earthy smell. Avoid slimy or mushy mushrooms, as they may be past their prime.
Cleaning Bella Mushrooms: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Turkey tail mushrooms have a white or pale brown underside with tiny pores. They also have multicoloured zones on top and are thin and leathery.
True turkey tail mushrooms have pores on their underside, whereas false turkey tail mushrooms have a smooth underside.
No, turkey tail mushrooms do not have gills. They are a type of polypore mushroom, which means they have pores on their underside instead of gills.
