Turkey Tail
Trametes versicolor
See artwork and accessories in our shop celebrating the Turkey Tail!
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Please refrain from picking and consuming mushrooms without proper guidance. If you have an interest in learning how to forage, I strongly encourage you to join your local mycological society. You can find a list of clubs across America, organized by state, on the North American Mycological Society's website.
Etymology:
Turkey Tail: The name turkey tail comes from the fungi resempling the colors and shape of a turkey's tail!
Trametes versicolor: The genus name Trametes comes from the prefix "tram-" meaning "thin" and the suffix "-etes" meaning "one who is". The species name Versicolor means many colors due to Turkey Tail fungi coming in a wide range of colors including brown, red, grey, and blue.
Other Common Names:
China: Yun Zhi (云芝) - Cloud Mushroom
Japan: kawaratake (瓦茸) - Roof Tile Mushroom
Holland: elfenbankje - Fairy Bench
Germany: schmetterlingstramete - Butteryfly Tramete
Lakota (Dakota): čháŋ siŋté (cannakpaa) - Tree Ears
Coriolus versicolor - While Trametes is the official genus name, Coriolus is often used as an alternative in scientific literature.
Location: Turkey tail fungi are found all over the world, but most commonly located in North America and Europe.
Ecological Group: The Decomposers! These fungi obtain their nutrients from dead and decaying organic matter such as logs, manure, and dead animals.
Edible? The actual mushroom is not edible in its raw form due to its fibrous and woody texture. However, you can boil it in water to extract its flavor, creating a broth that enhances other dishes with a rich mushroom taste. Moreover, it possesses numerous medicinal qualities that can benefit the immune system. For more details, refer to the science section below.
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Turkey Tail has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for at least 2000 years for its general immune-boosting effects. (Habtemariam, 2020)
PSK, a compound found in turkey tail mushrooms, has been used as an adjunct treatment for cancer in Japan since the 1970s. (National Cancer Institute, 2024)
Records show that the Lakota people, the indiginous group of people of North and South Dakota, have used the Turkey Tail to boost their immune system. (Black Elk, 1998; Wolakota Project, 2013)
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The enzymes produced by Turkey Tail fungi have a wide range of potential uses, from breaking down lignin in biomass to create biofuel to being used as an alternative to bleach in textiles. (Touahar et al, 2014)
Turkey Tails contain the bioactive compounds PSP (Polysaccharide peptide) and PSK (Polysaccharide-K). Studies have demonstrated that these compounds effectively stimulate the body's immune system while also exhibiting toxicity against tumor cells. Furthermore, both of these compounds have been approved for use in commercial medications as adjuvants in cancer therapy in China and Japan. (Habtemariuam, 2020; Fukuchi, 2016)
Learn More
Tom Volk's Fungus of the Month: Turkey Tail - Tom's "Fungus of the Month" publications are some of my favorite resources for learning about fungi. As a well-respected member of the mycological community, he creates engaging and informative articles that make learning about fungi exciting and enjoyable.
MushroomExpert: Trametes versicolor - This is an excellent guide for distinguishing real turkey tails from false turkey tails and other members of the Trametes genus.
This is Why Mushrooms Support Your Immune System by Fresh Caps - This is an excellent read for understanding the general benefits of fungi and what to consider when consuming medicinal mushrooms.
Is Turkey Tail The Holy Grail Of Medicinal Mushrooms? (Ultimate Guide) by Fresh Caps - Video going over the same info in the article above.
References
Black Elk, L. S., & Flying By, W. D. (1998). Culturally Important Plants of the Lakota [Research Paper, Sitting Bull College]. https://puc.sd.gov/commission/dockets/HydrocarbonPipeline/2014/HP14-001/testimony/betest.pdf
Fukuchi, M., Mochiki, E., Ishiguro, T., Ogura, T., Sobajima, J., Kumagai, Y., ... & Ishida, H. (2016). Improved efficacy by addition of protein-bound polysaccharide K to adjuvant chemotherapy for advanced gastric cancer. Anticancer Research, 36(8), 4237-4241. [Link]
Habtemariam, S. (2020). Trametes versicolor (Synn. Coriolus versicolor) polysaccharides in cancer therapy: Targets and efficacy. Biomedicines, 8(5), 135. [Link]
National Cancer Institute. (2024, June 14). Mushrooms (PDQ®). Cancer.gov. Retrieved June 16, 2024, from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/mushrooms-pdq
Touahar, I. E., Haroune, L., Ba, S., Bellenger, J. P., & Cabana, H. (2014). Characterization of combined cross-linked enzyme aggregates from laccase, versatile peroxidase and glucose oxidase, and their utilization for the elimination of pharmaceuticals. Science of the Total Environment, 481, 90-99. [Link]
Wolakota Project. (2013, October 9). cannakpaa (chun-nah-k’pah) “Tree Ears” - WoLakota Project. WoLakota Project. https://www.wolakotaproject.org/cannakpaa-chun-nah-kpah-tree-ears/
Disclaimer: Please refrain from picking and consuming mushrooms without proper guidance. If you have an interest in learning how to forage, I strongly encourage you to join your local mycological society. You can find a list of clubs across America, organized by state, on the North American Mycological Society's website.
