''Trametes versicolor''also known as ''Coriolus versicolor'' and ''Polyporus versicolor''is a common

polypore Polypores, also called bracket or shelf fungi, are a morphological group of basidiomycete-like gilled mushrooms and hydnoid fungi that form large fruiting bodies called conks, which are typically woody, circular, shelf- or bracket-shaped, ...

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 ''Cerrena unicolor'', commonly known as the mossy maze polypore, is a species of poroid fungus in the genus ''Cerrena''. The saprobic fungus causes white rot. Taxonomy The fungus was originally described by French botanist Jean Bulliard in ...

'', ''

Lenzites betulina ''Trametes betulina'' (formerly ''Lenzites betulina''), sometimes known by common names gilled polypore, birch mazegill or multicolor gill polypore, is a species of fungus. The caps are wide. Although it is a member of the Polyporales order, t ...

'', and ''

Stereum hirsutum ''Stereum hirsutum'', commonly known as the false turkey tail, hairy stereum, or hairy curtain crust, is a species of fungus and a plant pathogen that infects coniferous and deciduous trees. Description The fuzzy orangish fruiting bodies typical ...

''. Other species of ''

Stereum ''Stereum'' is the type genus of the Stereaceae family of fungi, in the Russulales order. Common names for species of this genus include leaf fungus, wax fungus, and shelf fungus. Fungi having a shape similar to a ''Stereum'' are said to have a s ...

'' 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 A wood-decay or xylophagous fungus is any species of fungus that digests moist wood, causing it to rot. Some species of wood-decay fungi attack dead wood, such as ''Serpula lacrymans'', and some, such as ''Armillaria'' (honey fungus), are paras ...

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 Lignocellulose refers to plant dry matter (biomass), so called lignocellulosic biomass. It is the most abundantly available raw material on the Earth for the production of biofuels. It is composed of two kinds of carbohydrate polymers, cellulose ...

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 Tineidae is a family of moths in the order Lepidoptera described by Pierre André Latreille in 1810. Collectively, they are known as fungus moths or tineid moths. The family contains considerably more than 3,000 species in more than 300 genera. ...

Nemaxera betulinella __NOTOC__ ''Nemaxera'' is a genus of the fungus moth family, Tineidae. Therein, it belongs to the subfamily Nemapogoninae. The genus is considered monotypic, with the single species ''Nemaxera betulinella'' placed here. The species occurs i ...

'',

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 ''Polyporivora picta'' is a species of flat-footed flies in the family Platypezidae. It is found throughout Northern and Central Europe. Morphology Like almost all members of its family, ''P. picta'' displays a strong sexual dimorphism. Females ...

'', 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