Turkey tail mushroom (Trametes versicolor) is one of the most common fungi found in forests worldwide With its colorful, banded caps resembling the tail feathers of a turkey, this mushroom is very distinctive in appearance. However, there are some lookalike species that can cause confusion when trying to identify turkey tail.
In this comprehensive guide, we will cover exactly how to identify turkey tail mushrooms through photos, descriptions of key traits, and comparisons with imposters. After reading, you’ll be able to confidently tell the difference between true turkey tails and false ones when you come across these fungi on your foraging adventures.
Key Identification Features of True Turkey Tail
There are four characteristics that set apart real turkey tail mushrooms from all imposters and wannabes
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Pores on the underside: Rather than gills, true turkey tail has tiny pores on the underside of its caps where its spores are produced. This makes it a polypore mushroom.
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Colorful concentric bands: The tops of turkey tail caps display colorful zones of brown, yellow, gray, blue, orange and other hues in a banded pattern.
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Velvety texture: The caps should feel soft and velvety resulting from fine fuzzy hairs covering the surface.
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Thin, flexible caps: When fresh, the caps are thin, pliable and elastic rather than woody or brittle.
Any mushroom lacking any one of these four traits is not a true turkey tail. Keep reading for more details on how to recognize these characteristics.
1. Pores On the Underside
The most foolproof way to identify turkey tail is by checking for pores rather than gills on the underside. Carefully flip over any mushroom you suspect might be turkey tail and inspect it closely.
True turkey tail will have a white to tan porous surface resembling a sponge or honeycomb. The pores are tiny, requiring very close observation to discern individually. There should be 3-8 pores per millimeter.
Any imposter mushrooms like false turkey tail will completely lack these pores and have smooth, gill-like or toothed undersides instead. Pores are absolutely required for positive ID.
2. Colorful Concentric Bands
When viewing the topside of turkey tails, you’ll see they display vibrant rings of color in a concentric banded pattern. The caps appear paint-splattered with a mix of shades.
Typical colors include various browns, yellows, grays, blues, greens, oranges, reds, purples and black in addition to white. The outer edges are usually whitish. The complex, multicolored banding is very distinctive.
This variegated look results from the mushroom’s growth over seasons as new layers of pores form. The striking colors serve as a good identifier. False turkey tails and other lookalikes lack such prominent banding.
3. Velvety Texture
The texture of the upper cap surface is another handy identifying feature. Gently run your fingers across the cap. True turkey tail will have a soft, velvety feel.
This results from dense fine hairs coating the caps. The texture is similar to suede or plush velvet. Some lookalikes have much smoother caps lacking this velvety quality when touched.
4. Thin, Flexible Caps
Fresh young turkey tail mushrooms have caps that are quite thin, often under 5 millimeters thick. Additionally, the caps are flexible when bent rather than snapping crisply.
Press gently on the edges of caps—they should flex and spring back without breaking. This pliability indicates freshness versus older, dried out specimens. Lookalikes tend to have thicker, more brittle caps.
Common Turkey Tail Imposters
Now that you know the key identifying traits of true turkey tails, let’s examine some frequent lookalikes you’ll want to distinguish them from when searching for these fungi:
False Turkey Tail
The false turkey tail mushroom (Stereum ostrea) is the most common impersonator. It displays similar color banding but completely lacks pores on its underside which is yellow and smooth. Additionally, false turkey tails are thicker and often have algae growing on their caps.
Violet Toothed Polypore
While this mushroom has a porous underside, its pores resemble teeth rather than the tiny round ones of turkey tail. It also lacks the velvety cap texture. Violet toothed polypores usually have purple tones on the edges rather than turkey tail’s pale white margins too.
Gilled Polypore
Despite its misleading name, the gilled polypore does not actually have true gills but a porous underside. However, it lacks turkey tails’ flexibility and concentric banding, instead having more of an orange-cinnamon coloration in broad zones on its caps.
How to Positively Identify Turkey Tail
Using the identifying characteristics described, you can feel confident determining if a mushroom is a true turkey tail. Ask yourself these questions:
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Does it have visible tiny pores on the underside?
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Is the cap surface velvety soft when touched?
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Are there colorful concentric bands on the top?
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Is the cap thin and pliable when fresh?
Only if the answer to all these is yes have you found a real Trametes versicolor turkey tail mushroom rather than a lookalike imposter. Proper identification is crucial, so when in doubt, seek additional opinions before consuming your harvest.
Tips for Spotting Turkey Tail in the Wild
Once familiar with turkey tail mushrooms’ distinct traits, they become easy to spot in forests during your foraging adventures. Their thin caps and vibrant colors make them stand out on fallen trees and logs.
Turkey tail is widespread across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It fruits prolifically in many regions, providing abundant harvest opportunities.
In temperate zones, turkey tail pops up by late summer and continues fruiting into winter after most other mushrooms have ceased. Cool, wet fall weather provides ideal growing conditions.
Slowly scan the sides of downed decomposing logs while walking trails. Once a bracket-like mushroom catches your eye, move off trail to inspect it further. Carefully flip it over to check for true turkey tail characteristics before collecting your bounty.
With this complete visual guide to identification, you’ll never mistake false turkey tails for the real thing again. Simply use the tips and photos provided to confidently determine if the fungi you find are true turkey tails you can harvest and enjoy. Happy foraging!
Turkey Tail Mushroom Description:
Turkey tail is a polypore mushroom that gets its name from the variety of colors and shape that resemble the tail feathers of wild turkeys. The surface of the cap can range in size and has a leather texture and rings of different shades of blacks, browns, whites and creams. It normally grows in layers, and is not very thick, only a few millimeters at most. There tend to be many fruiting bodies in one spot. The underneath is porous and white/light brown in color.
Turkey tail is a very common mushroom found almost anywhere where there is decomposing wood.
This mushroom causes white rot of the sapwood and can add to the decomposition process. It plays a large role in returning nutrients to the soil in woodlands. Some can be found growing year-round, but most thrive in fall and winter while they’re releasing spores.
Turkey tail, much like other mushroom species, grows on dead wood. If found on landscape trees, they may be a sign of internal decay that could be dangerous. If the decay is extensive, the tree may be at high risk of failure. If turkey tail is found on landscape trees, they should be tested for soundness. Severely decaying trees may be recommended for removal. Consult your local arborist to see what options are available for your trees with turkey tail.
How to Tell the Difference between a Turkey Tail & a False Turkey Tail Mushroom
FAQ
What does turkey tail do to your body?
Research has demonstrated that turkey tail may have antitumor properties, thought to be related to its immune-boosting effects. One test-tube study found that PSK, the polysaccharopeptide found in turkey tail mushrooms, inhibited the growth and spread of human colon cancer cells ( 12 ).
Does turkey tail have any toxic look alikes?
If you’ve found a false turkey tail mushroom by mistake, there’s no need to panic: None of the turkey tail lookalikes are poisonous. The tough texture of the false turkey tail makes it unsuitable for human consumption.
What medications should not be taken with turkey tails?
- Immunosuppressants. Turkey tail mushrooms may stimulate the immune system, which can potentially interfere with the effects of immunosuppressant medications.
- Chemotherapy drugs. …
- Blood thinners.
What does a turkey tail look like?
Rather than having gills on the underside like typical mushrooms, turkey tail has tiny pores that house its spores. This makes it a polypore mushroom. The concentrically banded caps of turkey tail form a semicircle or fan shape on the sides of decomposing trees. Fresh caps are thin and pliable with velvety texture.
What is the difference between a fake turkey tail and real turkey tail?
The difference between a real turkey tail mushroom and a false turkey tail lies underneath the mushroom cap. Real turkey tail mushrooms have small pores on the underside, while false turkey tail has a smooth underside with no pores. False turkey tail is not considered toxic.
What do turkey tail mushrooms look like?
Pore size. Turkey tail mushroom pores are very small and harder to distinguish than those of similar mushrooms. Fuzz. Turkey tail should look just a little hairy and feel velvety to the touch. Use these cues to find the right polypore when trekking through the woods on a mushroom hunting expedition.
What is a turkey tail?
Turkey tail’s scientific name, Trametes versiolor, translates to “one who is thin” and “of several colors.” It’s a perfect description that was originally assigned to the mushroom in 1939 by Czech mycologist Albert Pilát; before that, Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus had called it Boletus versicolor.
How do you know if a turkey tail is real?
The caps of turkey tail display unique concentric bands of various colors including shades of brown, yellow, grey, purple, green, and black. The outer edge is always cream or white. This pattern results from the fungus’ growth over seasons as new pore layers form. The striking multicolor bands are a definite clue that you’ve found true turkey tail.
What is a false turkey tail?
They are bracket fungi that grow in the same conditions as turkey tail. You might even find them growing on the same tree! False turkey tail is similar in size, shape, and texture. However, it is thinner and much more leathery than true turkey tail, becoming brittle and cracking as it dries.