Turkey tail mushrooms have rapidly gained popularity, making them one of the most sought-after consumer mushrooms on the market. Although we could buy them ourselves from a store, we would be denying ourselves the chance to spend time in nature foraging for them (and saving money!). Although there are many imitations of Turkey tail mushrooms, it is crucial that you understand their identification in order to confidently obtain a 20100% positive ID!
Luckily for us Turkey Tail identification is not a difficult task if you know what to look for. This article highlights those details and how they distinguish Turkey Tail from its lookalikes.
Turkey tail mushrooms (Trametes versicolor) are gaining popularity for their potential health benefits However, identifying them correctly is crucial, as lookalikes exist that lack the desired properties. This guide provides a comprehensive overview of identifying true turkey tail mushrooms, including visual characteristics, key features, and helpful resources.
Key Features of True Turkey Tail:
- Undersurface: The underside of a true turkey tail mushroom is white and covered with tiny pores, resembling a honeycomb. This distinguishes it from lookalikes with smooth or differently colored undersides.
- Top Surface: The top surface of a true turkey tail is typically multi-colored, with concentric bands of brown, gray, and white. It also has a velvety texture due to fine hairs.
- Shape and Size: Turkey tail mushrooms are typically fan-shaped or semicircular, with thin, flexible bodies. They can range in size from a few inches to several inches across.
- Growth Habit: Turkey tail mushrooms grow on dead trees and logs, often in overlapping clusters. They are common in forests worldwide.
Differentiating from Lookalikes:
- Stereum ostrea: This lookalike has a smooth, yellow underside and often has algae growing on it.
- Stereum hirstum: Similar to S. ostrea, this lookalike also has a smooth, yellow underside.
- Trichaptum abietinum: This lookalike has a toothed underside instead of pores and a different color pattern on the top surface.
Additional Resources:
- Turkey Tail Mushroom Identification Checklist: This checklist from Real Mushrooms provides a quick reference for identifying true turkey tail mushrooms.
- How to Identify Turkey Tail Mushrooms and Look Alikes: This article from Feral Foraging offers a detailed guide with pictures and comparisons to lookalikes.
- Turkey Tail Mushroom Identification Video: This video from Real Mushrooms provides a close-up look at the features of true turkey tail mushrooms.
Identifying turkey tail mushrooms accurately is essential for those seeking their potential health benefits. By understanding the key features, using the provided resources, and comparing to lookalikes, you can confidently identify true turkey tail mushrooms and enjoy their benefits.
Additional Tips:
- When in doubt, consult with an experienced mushroom forager or expert.
- Never consume any wild mushrooms without proper identification.
- Respect the environment and only harvest mushrooms sustainably.
Remember:
Turkey tail mushrooms are a valuable natural resource with potential health benefits. By following these guidelines, you can safely and confidently identify them and enjoy their unique properties.
“False Turkey Tail” – Stereum ostrea group
The first and most common lookalike comes from the Stereum ostrea group ( I say group because it looks like classic Stereum ostrea is not actually found in North America, so I’ll let the mycologists just sort that one out – article here to learn more)
We will examine the specimen’s underside in Step 1 of the test to confirm that it genuinely has a pore surface. We will know right away that Stereum isn’t Turkey Tail because it has a perfectly smooth surface and, as a “crust” fungus, no pores at all!
Here is another detail to look for. It definitely isn’t a hard and fast rule, but I find it to be true in most cases. While Stereum almost always begins to curve upward at the edges, Turkey Tail tends to grow more plane-like, especially when growing on the side of a log. You might avoid making multiple trips across the forest floor to confirm whether a distant mushroom is Turkey Tail or Stereum by using this method!
A Video Identification Guide
MushroomExpert is a wonderful written resource, but if you are looking for a full video guide. You can check out the YouTube video linked below from the Feral Foraging YouTube channel!.
A few of the Totally True Turkey Tail Test items, in my opinion, would really benefit from a visual aid. They are outlined below!.
How to Identify Turkey Tail Mushrooms ( and distinguish from false lookalikes )
FAQ
Are there any poisonous look alikes to turkey tail mushroom?
How can you tell a real turkey tail mushroom?
What is a false turkey tail mushroom?
What is the difference between hairy curtain crust and turkey tail?
How do you know if a turkey tail mushroom is real?
Here are some tips to help identify turkey tail mushrooms: Check the Pores: Turkey tail mushrooms have tiny pores on the underside of the cap, which are white or light-colored. The pores should be very small and tightly grouped together. If the pores are larger, it could be a false turkey tail mushroom.
Are turkey tail mushrooms polypore mushrooms?
The underside of turkey tail, like all polypore mushrooms, has tiny pores. Each of these pores contains spores that the fungus releases for reproduction. This video shows the various features of true turkey tail mushroom.
How to avoid false turkey tail mushroom identification?
The following steps are a great starting point to avoid false Turkey tail mushroom identification. So, the next time you go for a walk in the woods, you can utilize your newly acquired mushroom deduction abilities to your advantage. Then, take some fresh Turkey tail home to create a nutritious tea if you choose to forage what you find.
Are turkey tail mushrooms real?
Turkey tail mushrooms have several lookalikes that can be easily mistaken for the real thing. Here are some common lookalikes and how to differentiate them: False Turkey Tail: This mushroom looks similar to turkey tail but has a smooth underside with no pores.