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Friday 13 March 2020

Trametes versicolor - Turkey Tail

Trametes versicolor - Turkey Tail

Many of the posts I publish are about the more unusual or uncommon fungi I find on my travels. This current fungi season has been very poor due to the unusually wet and windy conditions. One fungi I have repeatedly come across this year has been Turkey Tail.  It's a very common fungi and this season - it is everywhere!  The examples I have seen have been spectacular. Typical of its name - fanning out just like a Turkey Tail.

Below are some lovely examples.  These show the different and variable colours concentrically zoned.

Characteristics:

Up to 5 cm across and 0.3 cm thick. Usually to be seen in large groups which form overlapping tiered groups.  The colour can be variable but zoned black-green, grey-blue, grey brown, or ochraceous-rust. Whitish margin, tough texture and smoothing with age. To be found on deciduous wood all year.  Very common.


Showing the turkey tail shape and the ochre concentrically zoned structure

Showing the variation of colours compared to the previous photograph
Showing blue-grey colours

Different colour variations compared to the above photographs