By Maureen Fellinger

While some people are disappointed that morel season is practically ending, I always feel so thrilled to continue looking for Spring mushrooms that pop up around this time of the year. Turkey tail (Trametes versacolor) is a fungi that generally fruits from May until December, although you can often find it before May. Turkey tail is one of my favorite fungi to introduce to beginner foragers for three reasons:

1. It is incredibly easy to identify.

2. There are no known toxic lookalikes.

3. It is one of the most common fungi in the United States.

When identifying turkey tail, you will notice that it often has a rosette formation, and has a striking cap pattern featuring shades of blue, white, grey, and brown. After a decent rain, the cap of freshly formed turkey tail has a soft, velvety feel. Always take a loop under the cap— the underside of turkey tail is white and has hundreds of tiny pores. Viewing the pores is a key identifier for this fungi as it has many lookalikes, as false turkey tail (Stereum ostrea) has an almost identical cap but has a smooth, poreless underside.

Turkey tail is one of the most well known medicinal mushrooms. It has been used for centuries around the world to treat various conditions. The health benefits of turkey tail are incredible:

• boosts the immune system

• contains antitumor properties

• contains prebiotics

• increases efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation for cancer patients

Due to its tough texture, turkey tail is not a palatable fungi. After foraging, dehydrate it and use it to make tea or broth. If you are not into foraging, there are many mushroom companies that offer turkey tail in a capsule form. With its numerous health benefits, turkey tail may be something that you should consider adding into your daily diet.

*The writer is Agraria’s Education Administrator.