This is another perennial bracket fungus that is extremely common. If you find them at the right time in their life-cycle you’ll be witness to some beautiful displays that are visually stunning.
What we have here is Turkeytail (trametes-versicolor) and is often layered in tiered groups on deciduous wood all year round. I often find these in ‘full bloom’ (so to speak) during the summer months. The pictures shown here are a selection from last June.
The common English name is very apt due to distinctive fan-like shape and concentric mix of colours involved, very similar indeed to that of a Turkeys’ tail feathers. You learn something new everyday!
The ‘versicolor’ description in the scientific name explains the changeable range of colours in which they can be found, such as shades of brown, blues, greys and greens. But whatever variable colour set you find, the thin wavy edge always remains creamy white. There are other Trametes species that do not share this feature.
The upper surface to touch is often variable too, depending on the weather conditions and age of the specimen. When younger, the texture is like a soft velvet, but this becomes smoother and less velvety with age.
The creamy white underside as you’ve probably guessed consists of many tiny round pores, with a few that are angular here and there. The flesh too is white with a tough and leathery consistency. Not really an edible species. It has no real taste to speak of anyway. Never mind.
But keep a look out for Turkeytail this autumn. I hope you get lucky and see some great examples of this pretty bracket.
QUICK ID TABLE: TURKEYTAIL Trametes versicolor
4-10cm x 3-5cm. 0.1-0.5cm thickness. Often in large tiered groups, overlapping each other. Upper surface extremely variable in mixed colours. Concentric pattern. White wavy edge.
White / Smooth. Matures to ochre.
PORES / SPORE PRINT
Small and circular often with irregular, angular pores too.
HABITAT / SEASON
All year round. Growing on deciduous wood. Very common.
Inedible. Too tough. Tastless.
The Genus POLYPORUS (Polypores): Characteristics to look out for:
• Nearly all are bracket fungi, but a few are with typical cap and stem but with pores instead of gills underside.