Trametes versicolor
Copyright, Clive Shirley
Turkey Tail is a common
bracket fungus
(a fungus which grows on the sides of logs or
trees). It is a fungus that has
no stalk
like a mushroom. It feels leathery to the touch. Turkey Tail has a spoon
or cup shape, up to four inches wide, and it is very
colorful. Its colors can range from brown, white, tan,
orange, red, or purple -- or all these colors at
once. Turkey Tail
caps
often overlap each other. Like other fungi, Turkey
Tail is the name for the part that you see. Most of the
fungus is inside the bark of the log. The "tail" that you
see is like the "flower" of the fungus. These "blooms" grow from
May to December. Turkey Tails can last several
years. Turkey Tails grow on dead
or dying wood, especially oaks. They are also known to grow
from wounds in a tree.
