Turkey tail mushrooms, scientifically known as Trametes versicolor, are a common and widespread type of fungi. They are recognized for their distinctive appearance, resembling the fanned tail feathers of a turkey. This mushroom is found globally. Accurate identification of Trametes versicolor is useful for those interested in foraging or observing fungi. This article details how to distinguish true turkey tail mushrooms from similar-looking species.
Distinctive Features of True Turkey Tail
True turkey tail mushrooms display visual characteristics that aid in identification. The cap, or top surface, is thin and leathery, often featuring concentric zones of varying colors. These colors include shades of brown, red, gray, blue, green, and black, inspiring its scientific name, versicolor, meaning “of various colors.” These bands are distinct and contrasting, radiating outwards from the mushroom’s attachment point.
The cap’s texture is an identifying feature; it is covered with fine, tiny hairs, giving it a velvety or fuzzy feel. The cap shape is fan-shaped, semicircular, or kidney-like, often with wavy outer margins that are white or cream-colored. These mushrooms are relatively flat, measuring between 2 to 8 centimeters (1 to 3 inches) across and about 1 to 3 millimeters (1/16 to 1/8 inches) thick.
The underside of a true turkey tail mushroom is its most distinguishing characteristic. It is off-white or white, especially when young, and possesses tiny, visible pores. These pores are small, with 3 to 8 pores per millimeter. As the mushroom ages, these pores can turn a brownish hue. A true turkey tail mushroom does not have a prominent stem; instead, it attaches directly to the wood substrate.
Typical Habitats and Growth Patterns
Turkey tail mushrooms are common polypore fungi globally, found across North America, Europe, and Asia. They grow on dead or decaying hardwood trees, including logs, stumps, and fallen branches. While hardwoods like oak, maple, beech, and birch are common, they can be found on conifers.
These mushrooms function as saprotrophic organisms, meaning they obtain nutrients by decomposing dead organic matter. This role helps recycle nutrients within forest ecosystems. Turkey tail mushrooms grow in overlapping clusters or dense, shelf-like layers. They can appear in rows or as compact rosettes on the wood surface. They thrive in temperate regions with moderate humidity and consistent moisture levels, often found in forests, parks, and wetland areas.
Identifying Genuine Turkey Tail from Look-Alikes
Distinguishing true turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) from its look-alikes is important. One common imposter is the false turkey tail, Stereum ostrea or Stereum hirsutum. While false turkey tail grows in fan or shelf-like shapes and can have concentric color zones, its underside is smooth and lacks pores. The underside of Stereum ostrea is yellow or brown, unlike the white, porous underside of true turkey tail. False turkey tail can also feel more papery and brittle, lacking the velvety texture of Trametes versicolor.
Another look-alike is the gilled polypore (Trametes betulina), also known as birch mazegill or multicolor gill polypore. Despite its name, its “gills” are not true gills but rather maze-like or slot-like tubes that are forked and fused, giving a gilled appearance. True turkey tail, in contrast, has distinct pores, not gill-like structures. Trametes betulina grows solitarily or in less dense clusters than true turkey tail.
Crowded parchment fungi (Stereum complicatum or Stereum rameale) can also resemble turkey tail. Like other Stereum species, these fungi are crust fungi, characterized by a smooth underside without pores. The violet-toothed polypore (Trichaptum biforme) is another species that can be mistaken for turkey tail. This mushroom is smaller and has a softer texture, with violet-colored teeth or spines on its underside, which differentiates it from the pore surface of Trametes versicolor.