One of the most common mushrooms in North America found virtually anywhere there are dead hardwood logs and stumps to decompose is the Trametes Versicolor fungus, commonly called Turkey Tails. The sporocarp, or fruiting bodies of the mushroom, are thin paper-like fungus having a surface that is finely fuzzy or velvety. The cap is distinctly banded with variable shades of orange, gray, red or brown.
These mushrooms are relatively small, but numerous in presence. It is a sap rot fungus and will decay wood from the outside of the stem inward. Occasionally, Turkey Tails may be observed on a dead branch within the canopy of a live tree. It is a good idea to remove that dead branch, but seldom, if ever, will it be a reason to remove the whole tree. Hunting for Turkey Tails is always in season; they fruit any time of the year!
Get outside and find some turkey tails on your next hike!
Can you eat turkey tail mushrooms?
We can’t say to eat or not any wild mushrooms. Yet, there is a lot of information online that can help you best determine if they are edible or not.