The Turkey Tail Mushroom (Trametes versicolor, also called Coriolus versicolor), also known as variegated formet or butterfly spore, is a common wood-inhabiting fungus species of polyporacea.

As a weakling parasite and wood decomposer, it is also at home in our latitudes, widespread and easy to find.

Known as “Yun Zhi” in TCM for a long time, its contained polysaccharides are considered particularly valuable. Trametes versicolor is mentioned in ancient Chinese medicinal works on medicinal herbs, for example, the “Shennong Ben Cao Jing”. This work was most likely written in the Han Dynasty (probably 200 BC), but it may contain even much older data. The active ingredient Krestin, extracted from the mushroom, has been approved as a cancer drug in Japan since 1977.

Also the decorative aspect is interesting, in floristry one uses the mushroom likewise. You can make beautiful brooches from it and pin them to your hat. In the past, they were also used as jewelry components, such as on brooches, buckles or hats.

Trametes versicolor is a common saprobiontic wood dweller or weakness parasite, its main substrate in Central Europe is the copper beech, more rarely it grows on oak, birch, common hazel and willow. In addition, the butterfly formet can occur on many other hardwoods, not infrequently also on coniferous wood. It grows on stumps, stacked wood, lying logs, branches and twigs. The fungus can be found in all forest types in Central Europe, moreover also outside forests if suitable substrate is available. The fruiting bodies are annual, the species can be found all year round; in Central Europe fresh fruiting bodies appear mainly from the end of May to August.

Non-sterile on hardwood logs, Trametes versicolor is not choosy. Sterile on (enriched) mixed substrates. The fungus sometimes grows rapidly into the substrate, but longer incubation periods of several months are the rule. Stronger light at 800-1500 lux provides better color formation.

1. Dissolve the malt extract and agar in distilled water.
2.  Sterilize the solution by autoclaving at 121°C for 15-20 minutes.
3. Pour the sterilized media into petri dishes or other containers under sterile conditions.
4. The Yeast is optional, but you can add it to any recipe for nutritions, same for Peptone.

This aggressive fungus can break down most hardwoods, recommend tane oak, oak, alder, poplar, aspen, elm, ironwood, and eucalyptus. This is one of the few mushrooms that grow well on apple, cherry, and other fruit trees. Softer hardwoods are quickly consumed, resulting in early, if not shorter, flushes.

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A mushroom with much less moisture content than most (75–80%), a 4.5-pound (2-kg) block of sawdust yields 100–200 grams of mushrooms dry

annual mushroom that often survives several seasons, fruiting bodies turn a dull gray long after the life cycle is complete. Often forms large colonies, especially on fallen hardwood logs and stumps.

subsequent decomposers, white rot trigger

Trametes versicolor is probably widespread all over the world. In Central Europe it is one of the most common porlings and can be found everywhere.

The most common polypore on dead hardwoods, less often on conifers. Most shiitake growers have come across this mushroom because it is a common competitor for natural wood, hardwood, poplar, oak, birch, beech, all year round (annual).

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The Turkey Tail Mushroom is not an edible mushroom and is considered inedible in this country; however, extracts are used elsewhere (e.g., in the U.S.) as a food additive, which can cause diarrhea, stool discoloration, and discoloration of fingernails.