''Trametes versicolor''also known as ''Coriolus versicolor'' and ''Polyporus versicolor''is a common polypore mushroom found throughout the world. Owing to its shape being similar to that of a

wild turkey The wild turkey (''Meleagris gallopavo'') is an upland game bird native to North America, one of two extant species of Turkey (bird), turkey and the heaviest member of the order Galliformes. It is the ancestor to the domestic turkey (''M. g. dom ...

's tail feathers, ''T. versicolor'' is most commonly referred to as turkey tail. VibrantTurkeyTail

It is commonly marketed as a

dietary supplement A dietary supplement is a manufactured product intended to supplement a person's diet by taking a pill (pharmacy), pill, capsule (pharmacy), capsule, tablet (pharmacy), tablet, powder, or liquid. A supplement can provide nutrients eithe ...

for various health benefits but lacks sufficient

scientific evidence Scientific evidence is evidence that serves to either support or counter a scientific theory or hypothesis, although scientists also use evidence in other ways, such as when applying theories to practical problems. "Discussions about empirical ev ...

for safety or effectiveness, and quality can vary due to inconsistent processing and labeling.

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 thick. The cap is flat, up to across. It is often triangular or round, with zones of fine hairs coloured rust-brown or darker brown, sometimes with black zones. Underneath a layer of tomentum is a black layer, topping the whitish flesh. Older specimens can have zones with green

algae Algae ( , ; : alga ) is an informal term for any organisms of a large and diverse group of photosynthesis, photosynthetic organisms that are not plants, and includes species from multiple distinct clades. Such organisms range from unicellular ...

growing on them. The bottom surface of the cap shows typical concentric zones of different colors, with the margin always the lightest. There are 3–5 pores per mm. They are whitish to light brown, with pores round and with age twisted and labyrinthine.

Similar species

One similar-looking mushroom is '' Stereum ostrea'' (false turkey tail). Other similar species include '' Trametes betulina'', ''T. hirsuta'', '' T. ochracea'', '' T. suaveolens'', '' Bjerkandera adusta'', '' Cerrena unicolor'', '' Lenzites betulina'', and '' Stereum hirsutum''. Other species of '' Stereum'' are similar, typically with a smooth undersurface, as well as some species of '' Trichaptum''.

Ecology

''T. versicolor'' commonly grows in tiled layers in groups or rows on logs and stumps of deciduous trees. It is a white rot fungus which degrades

lignin Lignin is a class of complex organic polymers that form key structural materials in the support tissues of most plants. Lignins are particularly important in the formation of cell walls, especially in wood and bark, because they lend rigidit ...

from lignocellulosic materials, such as wood. The species may be eaten by

caterpillar Caterpillars ( ) are the larval stage of members of the order Lepidoptera (the insect order comprising butterflies and moths). As with most common names, the application of the word is arbitrary, since the larvae of sawflies (suborder ...

s of the fungus moth '' Nemaxera betulinella'',

maggot A maggot is the larva of a fly (order Diptera); it is applied in particular to the larvae of Brachycera flies, such as houseflies, cheese flies, hoverflies, and blowflies, rather than larvae of the Nematocera, such as mosquitoes and cr ...

s of the Platypezid fly '' Polyporivora picta'', and the fungus gnat '' Mycetophila luctuosa''.

Uses

''Trametes versicolor'' is considered too tough to eat, but can be prepared in many ways, such as teas and powders. It has been most notably consumed in

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

for thousands of years under the name "Yunzhi" (). The species may be used in

traditional Chinese medicine Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative medicine, alternative medical practice drawn from traditional medicine in China. A large share of its claims are pseudoscientific, with the majority of treatments having no robust evidence ...

or other

herbalism Herbal medicine (also called herbalism, phytomedicine or phytotherapy) is the study of pharmacognosy and the use of medicinal plants, which are a basis of traditional medicine. Scientific evidence for the effectiveness of many herbal treatments ...

practices. It is commonly marketed as a

for various health benefits but lacks sufficient

for safety or effectiveness, and quality can vary due to inconsistent processing and labeling.

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

References

External links

''Trametes versicolor''
at Mushroom-Collecting.com {{Authority control Fungi described in 1753 Fungi of Europe Fungi of North America Medicinal fungi Polyporaceae Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus Fungus species Fungi used for fiber dyes