Wild Guide: Turkey Tail Mushrooms

Turkey tail mushrooms grow in clusters of leathery, thin brackets with multicolored zones above and whitish yellow pores below. The caps are semicircular to spoonshaped, and the caps’ band of colors make true turkey tails easy to recognize. One of many fungus species that live on decaying wood, turkey tails and other such fungi play an incredibly important role in breaking down wood and returning those nutrients to the soil. Beware of false turkey tails (Stereum ostrea), which are parchmentlike with smooth undersides.