Trametes versicolor

{{Short description|Species of mushroom}} {{Redirect|Turkey tail|the tail of a turkey|Pygostyle}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}} {{Speciesbox | image = Trametes versicolor G4 (1).JPG | genus = Trametes | species = versicolor | authority = (L.) Lloyd (1920) | synonyms = ''Boletus versicolor'' L. (1753) ''Polyporus versicolor'' (L.) Fr. (1821) ''Coriolus versicolor'' (L.) Quél. (1886) }} {{Mycomorphbox | name = ''Trametes versicolor'' | hymeniumType=pores | capShape = offset | capShape2 = no | whichGills = decurrent | stipeCharacter=NA | sporePrintColor=white | sporePrintColor2=yellow | ecologicalType=saprotrophic | howEdible=too hard to eat }}

'''''Trametes versicolor'''''{{Snd}}also known as ''Coriolus versicolor'' and ''Polyporus versicolor{{Snd}}''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'''.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Sisson |first1=Liv |url=https://www.worldcat.org/title/on1372569849 |title=Fungi of Aotearoa: a curious forager's field guide |last2=Vigus |first2=Paula |date=2023 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-1-76104-787-9 |location=Auckland, New Zealand |pages=266 |oclc=on1372569849}}</ref>

thumb|''T. versicolor'' on rotting wood

Although polysaccharide-K, an extract of ''T. versicolor'', is approved in Japan as an adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment,<ref name="drugs">{{Cite web |title=Turkey Tail Uses, Benefits & Dosage |url=https://www.drugs.com/npp/turkey-tail.html |access-date=2025-06-20 |website=Drugs.com |language=en}}</ref> it is not approved in the United States for treatment of cancer or any clinical condition.<ref name="pdq">{{cite web |title=Medicinal Mushrooms (PDQ) |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK424937/ |publisher=Physician Data Query (PDQ), US National Cancer Institute |access-date=20 June 2025 |date=2 March 2017}}</ref> Extracts of turkey tail or the mushroom itself are commonly marketed as a dietary supplement for various health benefits, and quality can vary due to inconsistent processing and labeling.<ref name="opss">{{cite web |title=Mushrooms in dietary supplements |url=https://www.opss.org/article/mushrooms-dietary-supplements |website=Operation Supplement Safety |publisher=Consortium for Health and Military Performance |date=2020-07-29 |access-date=2025-05-19}}</ref>

==Etymology== Meaning 'of several colors', ''versicolor'' accurately describes this fungus that displays a unique blend of markings.

==Description== The fruiting body is somewhat tongue-shaped, with no discernable stalk, and the tough flesh is {{Convert|1–3|mm|frac=16}} thick. The cap is flat, up to {{Convert|10|cm|frac=4}} across.<ref name="Arora1986">{{Cite book |last=Arora |first=David |author-link=David Arora |url=https://archive.org/details/arora-david-mushrooms-demystified-a-comprehensive-guide-to-the-fleshy-fungi-ten-speed-press-1986/page/594/mode/2up |title=Mushrooms Demystified: A Comprehensive Guide to the Fleshy Fungi |publisher=Ten Speed Press |year=1986 |isbn=978-0-89815-170-1 |edition=2nd |location=Berkeley, CA |pages=594 |orig-date=1979}}</ref> It is often triangular or round, with zones of fine hairs coloured rust-brown or darker brown, sometimes with black zones.<ref name="Arora1986" /> Underneath a layer of tomentum is a black layer, topping the whitish flesh.<ref name=":2">{{cite book |last1=Trudell |first1=Steve |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WevHvt6Tr8kC |title=Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest |last2=Ammirati |first2=Joe |publisher=Timber Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-0-88192-935-5 |series=Timber Press Field Guides |location=Portland, OR |pages=264 |language=en}}</ref> Older specimens can have zones with green algae growing on them.<ref name="Arora1986" />

The bottom surface of the cap shows typical concentric zones of different colors, with the margin always the lightest.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Turkey Tail |url=https://nature.mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/turkey-tail |access-date=2021-02-14 |website=MDC Discover Nature |language=en}}</ref> There are 3–5 pores per mm. They are whitish to light brown,<ref name="Arora1986" /> with pores round and with age twisted and labyrinthine.

=== Similar species === One similar-looking mushroom is ''Stereum ostrea'' (false turkey tail).<ref name=":0" />

Other similar species include ''Trametes betulina'',<ref name=":0" /> ''T. hirsuta'',<ref name=":1" /> ''T. ochracea'',<ref name=":2" /> ''T. suaveolens'', ''Bjerkandera adusta'',<ref name=":1" /> ''Cerrena unicolor'',<ref name=":2" /> ''Lenzites betulina'', and ''Stereum hirsutum''.<ref name=":1" /> Other species of ''Stereum'' are similar, typically with a smooth undersurface, as well as some species of ''Trichaptum''.<ref name=":2" />

== Ecology == ''T. versicolor'' commonly grows in tiled layers in groups or rows on logs and stumps of deciduous trees.<ref name=":0" /> It is a white rot fungus which degrades lignin from lignocellulosic materials, such as wood.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=S.|first=Pointing|date=2001-10-01|title=Feasibility of bioremediation by white-rot fungi|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s002530100745|journal=Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology|volume=57|issue=1–2|pages=20–33|doi=10.1007/s002530100745|pmid=11693920 |s2cid=33607687 |issn=0175-7598|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

The species may be eaten by caterpillars of the fungus moth ''Nemaxera betulinella'', maggots of the fly ''Polyporivora picta'',<ref name="Chandler2001">{{Citation|last=Chandler|first=Peter J.|title=The Flat-footed flies (Opetiidae and Platypezidae) of Europe|series=Fauna Entomologica Scandinavica|volume=36|date=2001|publisher=Brill|location=Leiden|isbn=90-04-12023-8|pages=1–278}}</ref> and the fungus gnat ''Mycetophila luctuosa''.<ref>{{citation|doi=10.33338/ef.4693|title=Fungus gnats (Diptera: Sciaroidea) associated with dead wood and wood growing fungi: New rearing data from Finland and Russian Karelia and general analysis of known larval microhabitats in Europe|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279468561|journal=Entomologica Fennica|volume=22|issue=3|year=2011|last1=Jakovlev|first1=Jevgeni|doi-access=free}}</ref>

==Uses== {{further|Polysaccharide-K}} ''Trametes versicolor'' is considered too tough to eat,<ref name="Arora1986" /> but can be prepared in many ways, such as teas and powders. It has been most notably consumed in China for thousands of years under the name "Yunzhi" ({{zh|c=云芝}}).<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last1=Davis|first1=R. Michael|title=Field Guide to Mushrooms of Western North America|last2=Sommer|first2=Robert|last3=Menge|first3=John A.|publisher=University of California Press|year=2012|isbn=978-0-520-95360-4|location=Berkeley|pages=356–357|oclc=797915861}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Meuninck |first=Jim |title=Foraging Mushrooms Oregon: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Mushrooms |date=2017 |publisher=Falcon Guides |isbn=978-1-4930-2669-2 |page=51}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Trametes versicolor |url=https://midwestmycology.org/trametes-versicolor/#:~:text=Trametes%20are%20not%20usually%20considered,they%20are%20tough%20and%20leathery. |website=midwestmycology.org | date=25 June 2019 |access-date=27 June 2024 |ref=Used in edibility}}</ref><ref name="ncbi">{{cite journal |title=Biological Degradation of Chinese Fir with Trametes Versicolor (L.) Lloyd |date=2017 |pmc=5551877 |last1=Chen |first1=M. |last2=Wang |first2=C. |last3=Fei |first3=B. |last4=Ma |first4=X. |last5=Zhang |first5=B. |last6=Zhang |first6=S. |last7=Huang |first7=A. |journal=Materials |volume=10 |issue=7 |page=834 |doi=10.3390/ma10070834 |doi-access=free |pmid=28773191 |bibcode=2017Mate...10..834C }}</ref>

The species may be used in traditional Chinese medicine or other herbalism practices.<ref name="pdq"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Meuninck |first=Jim |title=Foraging Mushrooms Oregon: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Edible Wild Mushrooms |date=2017 |publisher=Falcon Guides |isbn=978-1-4930-2669-2 |page=52}}</ref>

Although polysaccharide-K is approved in Japan as an adjuvant therapy in cancer treatment,<ref name=drugs/> neither the extract nor the mushroom preparation is approved or used in the United States for any clinical condition.<ref name=pdq/> It is commonly marketed as a dietary supplement for various health benefits, but lacks sufficient scientific evidence for safety or effectiveness, and quality can vary due to inconsistent processing and labeling.<ref name=drugs/><ref name=opss/>

==Gallery== <gallery> Image:Schmetterlingstramete_Trametes_versicolor_001.jpg|''T. versicolor'' covering a stump Image:Schmetterlingstramete Trametes versicolor 004.jpg|Close up of ''T. versicolor''. Image:Trametes_versicolor_2.jpg|Color variation of ''T. versicolor'' on the same tree stump Image:Trametes.versicolor4.-.lindsey.jpg|Pale specimens Image:Schmetterlingstramete_(Trametes_versicolor)_-_hms(1).jpg|Brown variety Image:Trametes_versicolor_different_colours.jpg|Pale and brown varieties side by side File:Schmetterlingsporling (Coriolus versicolor).jpg|Brown variety in higher magnification File:Tramete versicolor.jpg|''T. versicolor'', pale variety </gallery>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons|Trametes versicolor|''Trametes versicolor''}} * [http://mushroom-collecting.com/mushroomturkey.html ''Trametes versicolor''] at Mushroom-Collecting.com

Category:Fungi described in 1753 Category:Fungi of Europe Category:Fungi of North America Category:Medicinal fungi Category:Polyporaceae Category:Fungal taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Category:Fungus species Category:Fungi used for fiber dyes