Turkey tail mushroom – which also goes by the names Trametes versicolor, Coriolus versicolor and Polyporus versicolor – is a very common polypore mushroom type found anywhere in the world. Versicolor is a Latin word which means “of several colors”, a word that perfectly describes this type of mushroom. It is more commonly called turkey tail because it resembles the tail of a wild turkey. The mushroom’s top surface contains concentric zones of different colors that range from purple, brown, tan, red, orange, to white. Its flesh is usually between 1-3 mm thick with a leathery texture. Turkey tail mushrooms can sometimes appear green when algae grow on them. They often grow in overlapping tiled layers. Just as most other mushrooms merit their names, “turkey tail” describes the cap, which is the part of the mushroom you regularly see. As with all fungus, turkey tail mushrooms grow mostly unseen inside their nutrient source, such as the bark of a log. The conspicuous cap is actually the mushroom’s “flower” which appears when the fungus is prepared to reproduce and scatter spores. Where do they grow? Turkey tail caps typically grow from May to December. They prefer to grow on dead or dying wood, particularly oaks. They can also grow out of tree cracks. Their presence can be harmful to a sick tree which actually becomes consumed by the invading fungus; but they are regarded as beneficial because they break down old, dead logs and trunks to return their nutrients to the earth for use by other flora. Can they be eaten? Turkey tail mushrooms are not poisonous. In fact, they are fit for human consumption. However, the caps are tough and leathery, which is why people often boil them for hours to soften them. Still, there are those who eat the mushrooms as they are and chew the tough cap like gum. They are often made into medicinal tea; and they can also be made into natural dye for clothes and paper. How do you get them? To remove a turkey tail from the bark it’s growing on, you need to cut it away with a knife. Slice through the cap at the point where it makes contact with the tree. You will want to cut as close to the tree as you can. Since they often grow on dead or dying trees, you won’t have to worry about damaging the bark with your knife. There are various turkey tail products in the market. You can easily buy turkey tail extracts, capsules, and teabags from your favorite alternative medicine store. However, before purchasing such a product, just make sure you understand what the product can do and have only realistic expectations about it.
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