Turkeytail Ā Ā Ā Trametes versicolor
Turkeytail is a commonly sought after fungi.
Though it isnāt prized for cooking, itās still foraged as tea, and many people believe turkeytail teas or extractions have various health benefits.
As mushrooming has become somewhat more popular recently, Iāll sometimes come across people interested in finding and identifying wild T versicolor for their own use.
Anyone interested would be happy to learn that this is one of the most easily encountered fungi, at least around where I live in Cleveland, Ohio.Ā
The colorful arrangements that make up the varying concentric zones on these little fan shaped fruiting bodies look like turkey tails.
The species nameĀ āversicolorā comes from the color variations to be found both in individual specimens and in various flushes in different environments.Ā Ā
They can come in shades of peaches and cream, greens and grays, brown and tan, or even smoky blue.
They range in size from small and inconspicuous to large and spreading.
They may cluster in little spreads or sheet across entire logs.Ā They are saprobic, growing on dead wood.
Besides some of their look-a-likes, such as violet tooth or āfalseā turkeytail Stereum ostrea, T versicolor are probably the fungi I come across most often on my walks.
When you know their habitats, fruiting seasons, and key identifying features, they can be found in practically minutes.
They tend to grow with a bit of fuzz on them, making them somewhat velvety.Ā They are white on the undersides with true pores.Ā This should distinguish it from some of its look-a-likes.
I consider Turkeytail pretty safe for beginners, but you should always do your own research.Ā If youāre just starting out, take the time to get to know these fungi and their look-alikes.
Most fungi which resemble Turkeytail are non-toxic.Ā But you should still be sure of your own IDs if you plan on ingesting any wild fungi.
I wonāt pretend to be very knowledgeable about their reported health benefits.Ā Certainly, natural diversity is good for any diet.Ā Ā I drink turkeytail tea and prefer it to reishi because I think it tastes better.
I tend to let them grow through summer and harvest in fall or early winter.Ā I think most are unfit to consume after January before a new season begins.
