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Common Name : Turkey tail Mushrooms     -       Scientific Name : Trametes sp.      

These species which are commonly referred to as Turkey tails belong to the Poluporaceae family and comprise of a staggering 195 species. These are distributed throughout the world. The Turkey tails are not considered edible due to being quite hard and leathery in texture. However, in some regions these Fungai are harvested and ground in to a powder and consumed as a tea considering their medicinal properties. These mushrooms are always found on dead wood or stumps and some are even growing on live tree trunks. Some species of Butterfly and Moth larva feed on Turkey Tail Mushrooms.

Interestingly mycologists use the common English names “Chicken of the Woods” and “Hen of the Woods” for mushroom species as they taste like the meat of the fowl whereas with this species the common name is only due to its appearance to a fanned-out Turkey’s tail feathers.

I have observed this species during the month of December between Kokkare Villu and Kuruttupandi Vullu.