False Turkey Tail

(Stereum ostrea)

Conservation Status
False Turkey Tail
Photo by Kirk Nelson
  IUCN Red List

not listed

 
  NatureServe

not listed

 
  Minnesota

not listed

 
           
           
           
           
 
Description
 
 

False Turkey Tail is an extremely common, widely distributed, wood decaying, bracket fungi. It usually develops individual, overlapping brackets that do not fuse into larger shelves or rosettes. It is saprobic, occurring on logs and stumps of dead hardwood trees, especially oaks.

There is no stalk.

The fruiting body is a thin, semicircular or fan-shaped, 2 to 3 wide bracket (cap). It is leathery and pliant when moist, rigid when dry. It may be flat, but is usually curved up at the sides in the shape of a sliced funnel. The upper surface is dry and concentrically zoned dark reddish, orange, yellowish, brown, and buff. It is densely velvety hairy at first, but the hairs wear away as the cap ages. Older caps are usually buff or gray, often greenish or blackish due to being partially covered with algae.

The under surface is smooth or slightly bumpy, with no layer of pores or tubes. It is buff to cinnamon-buff when young, becoming grayish or whitish on older specimens.

The flesh is tough and inedible.

The spore print is white but difficult to obtain.

 
     
 

Similar Species

 
  Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) brackets often fuse into overlapping rosettes. The underside of the cap is covered with a layer of spore-bearing pores.  
     
 
Habitat and Hosts
 
 

Dead hardwoods, especially oaks.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Season

 
 

Year-round

 
     
 
Distribution
 
 

Distribution Map

 

Sources

4, 7, 24, 26, 29, 30, 77.

 
  11/19/2022      
         
 

Occurrence

 
 

Extremely common and widespread.

 
         
 
Taxonomy
 
  Kingdom Fungi (fungi)  
  Subkingdom Dikarya  
  Division Basidiomycota (club fungi)  
  Subdivision Agaricomycotina (jelly fungi, yeasts, and mushrooms)  
  Class Agaricomycetes (mushrooms, bracket fungi, puffballs, and allies)  
  Subclass Agaricomycetidae  
  Order Russulales  
  Family Stereaceae  
  Genus Stereum  
       
 

Synonyms

 
 

Stereum australe

Stereum fasciatum

Stereum lobatum

 
       
 

Common Names

 
 

False Turkey Tail

False Turkey-tail

Golden Curtain Crust

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glossary

Saprobic

A term often used for saprotrophic fungi. Referring to fungi that obtain their nutrients from decayed organic matter.

 
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Luciearl

 
    False Turkey Tail      
 

Kirk Nelson

 
 

False Turkey Tail and Chicken of the Woods, 9/5/2016

 
    Chicken of the Woods      
           
 

8/21/2016

 
    False Turkey Tail      
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

 

 
           

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
Stereum ostrea - fungi kingdom
Nineli Lishina
   
 
About

Published on Jan 25, 2015

Stereum ostrea - fungi kingdom

 

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  Turkey Tail vs. False Turkey Tail Medicinal Mushrooms
Doctor Mushroom - Natural Healing
 
   
 
About

Published on May 5, 2016

Turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) is highly sought after for its medicinal properties, which include immuno-stimulation, anti-viral properties (especially vs. the flu), and anti-cancer properties, especially against the leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. It often has vibrant colors and grows in rosettes. Faintly fuzzy top surface.

False turkey tail (Stereum ostrea) does not grow in rosettes, is less colorful, and is thinner. It has some anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, but is not commonly used.

Turkey tail is made into a tea by boiling for 12 to 60 hours.

These videos are for educational purposes, not to promote any product or service. Always confirm ID's using multiple sources. Dr. Mushroom assumes no liability for misidentification (by you or him), or incomplete or otherwise incorrect information. A short video should serve to stimulate interest, and prod you to seek out more complete information.

   
  Stereum_ostrea
The Roaming Gnome...Glenn Munro!
 
   
 
About

Published on Apr 27, 2016

   

 

Camcorder


Created: 9/7/2016

Last Updated:

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