Species of the Month

This colourful bracket fungus has thin but tough, velvety fan-shaped rings that overlap in tiers. Brackets are between 1-3 mm thick and 4 – 10 cm wide. Multicoloured, semi-circular rings radiate across like a rainbow, but in autumnal tones such as grey, brown, orange and blue with a pale cream or white margin. The underside is white and has thousands of tiny pores (polyporous) instead of gills.

Turkeytail fungi can be confused with other bracket fungi so watch out for the distinct, different colour zones in the layers on the cap. Check if the top surface feels velvety and the new mushrooms are thin and flexible and most importantly, check if the underneath is white with lots of tiny pore holes.

It is crucial in the woodland ecosystem because it breaks down cellulose and lignin (a very tough material that only highly specialised organisms can degrade) in dead wood. This decomposition returns nutrients to the soil, making them available for new growth thus ensuring the nutrient cycle.

Because bracket fungi are so tough, they last longer than many other fungi and will survive over winter, making them useful for many invertebrates. Fly and moth larvae burrow into it for shelter and it is eaten by some beetles and slugs. Deer may also eat it, while insects and birds will eat the other insects living in the fungi.

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Its scientific name ‘Trametes versicolor’ means ‘thin in sections’ and ‘of several colours’.

Because it is very colourful, it was once popular as a table decoration as well as being used to decorate hats. 

It is considered inedible because it is so tough but can be used to make tea. 

It is very important in Chinese medicine, and it may have medicinal benefits such as boosting the immune system and reducing fatigue. Some reports suggest it could possibly be used in anti-cancer drugs therapies. 

Fungi lack green chlorophyl so get their nutrients and energy from dead and decaying organic matter. Tiny filaments called hyphae spread through the wood releasing enzymes which break down the wood and release nutrients. These are absorbed by the fungus for energy and growth and released into the soil where they are absorbed by plants. Hyphae are often unseen but produce visible fruiting bodies or ‘mushrooms’ for reproduction. In this case they are the brackets and these fruiting bodies produce spores, which are released and grow to form new hyphae.

It is common and widespread across the UK and Ireland and other temperate regions of Europe from Northern Scandinavia down to the Mediterranean region. It is also found in Asia, and North America.

It can be found all year round growing on the dead and decaying logs, stumps and branches of deciduous hardwood trees such as oak and beech. 

Have a log pile of hardwood such as oak and beech. It will not only create a fantastic habitat for invertebrates, but for turkeytail fungus too. Try and avoid being too tidy in the garden and avoid using herbicides and pesticides. For more hints and tips on how to help wildlife in your garden, visit here.