False turkey tail vs turkey tail: everything you need to know

Turkey tail is a popular medicinal mushroom to forage for. This is thanks to its distinctive appearance, impressive health benefits, and relative abundance in the wild. However, there are some turkey tail lookalikes to be aware of if you’re planning to search for this potent fungus. And perhaps the most notable of these is false turkey tail, or Stereum ostrea. In this post, we’re examining the differences between false turkey tail vs turkey tail to help you tell them apart. Plus, we’ll explore why the real deal is so good for you, and how to add it to your diet.

An overview of turkey tail mushrooms

Let’s begin with a quick introduction to the turkey tail fungus. After all, it’s helpful to know what the genuine article is before we discuss false turkey tail vs turkey tail. Also known by its scientific name, Trametes versicolor, turkey tail is a medicinal mushroom revered for its wellness-supporting properties. It grows naturally on dead hardwood trees across North America, Asia, and Europe, including here in the UK. And these days, producers cultivate it worldwide for use in supplements and similar products too.

Interestingly, over the years, people have prized turkey tail for its appearance as much as for its nutritional value. This includes using its fan-like caps adorned with multicoloured concentric rings as table ornaments and hat decorations! In fact, its resemblance to the feathers of a turkey’s tail is exactly how it got its name.

Moving on to false turkey tail, this is comparable in appearance to real turkey tail, so newbies often misidentify it. It doesn’t help that the two grow in similar environments, meaning you’re likely to encounter them in the same location.

Mixing up these mushrooms might not matter if you’re using them decoratively. However, there’s a big difference in false turkey tail vs turkey tail when it comes to health benefits. As such, it’s important to be able to tell the two mushrooms apart when you’re foraging in the wild. But before we explain how to do that, we should explore why you'd want to consume turkey tail in the first place.

The wellness benefits of turkey tail

Adding turkey tail to your diet could offer a wealth of potential advantages, most notably for immunity and gut health.

For example, this potent mushroom contains two polysaccharopeptides – PSP and PSK – which help support the immune system. Research has found that PSP can increase your monocytes, which are white blood cells that fight infection and eliminate germs.(1) Similarly, PSK is able to activate natural killer cells, another type of white blood cell that protects us from pathogens.(2) Both are used alongside conventional cancer treatments in Japan and China to boost patient recovery and quality of life. The presence of these compounds is one of the major differences between false turkey tail vs turkey tail.

Another reason turkey tail benefits immunity is that it’s rich in beta-glucan. This is a type of fibre that can increase the activity of immune cells like macrophages.(3) What’s more, it supports cardiovascular health by lowering cholesterol levels in your blood and lessening the risk of heart disease.(4) That’s another win for the mushroom in the false turkey tail vs turkey tail contest, as there’s no beta-glucan in the imposter.

Like many medicinal mushrooms, turkey tail is bursting with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. These promote wellbeing by reducing oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, both of which increase the risk of developing harmful conditions.

The last benefit of turkey tail we’re going to mention is its ability to support gut health. The mushroom acts as a prebiotic, nourishing the good bacteria in your gut and inhibiting the detrimental bacteria there.(5) Not only is this advantageous for digestive health, but also the brain, heart, and immune system. All of which means there’s really no contest between false turkey tail vs turkey tail.

Turkey tail vs. false turkey tail: key differences

As the name implies, false turkey tail has a lot in common visually with true turkey tail. This can make it tricky to tell the two apart, especially if you’re new to the world of mushrooms. However, when you observe closely, there are several traits that enable you to distinguish between Stereum ostrea vs turkey tail. Let’s look at how to tell the difference between turkey tail and false turkey tail mushrooms.

How to differentiate turkey tail from false turkey tail

One of the first differences you might notice between turkey tail vs false turkey tail is the mushrooms’ shape. False turkey tail often curves upright, a bit like a shell, whereas the real turkey tail is flatter. They both have irregular edges, and are fairly thin and flexible when fresh. However, Stereum ostrea is normally larger and thicker than Trametes versicolor.

Colour is also a good way to tell the difference between turkey tail and false turkey tail. While both have concentric rings and pale edges, they tend to be in different hues. False turkey tail generally grows in shades of red, orange, and brown. Meanwhile, true turkey tail can have rings of purple, green, blue, grey, brown, and red.

Another method for how to tell the difference between turkey tail and false turkey tail is looking at the underside. False turkey tail is yellow or brown underneath, with a smooth texture. Real turkey tail, on the other hand, is white underneath with tiny pores (like very small holes). In many cases, this is the easiest way to distinguish false turkey tail vs turkey tail.

Main differences between turkey tail and false turkey tail

The following table sums up the principal differences between turkey tail and false turkey tail mushrooms:

	Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor)	False Turkey Tail (Stereum ostrea)
Colour	Has rings in distinct shades, including purple, green, grey, brown, and red. Often has a white ring around the outer edge of its caps.	Usually has an orange, brown, or red hue, with rings in these shades.
Size and shape	Grows between 2-8cm with a flat cap that has wavy edges.	Grows up to 7cm in a shell shape with an upward curvature.
Underside	White with tiny pores.	Yellow or brown, and smooth with no pores.

One last tip is to spend some time looking at photographs of both species of fungus. It’s often easier to distinguish turkey tail mushroom vs false turkey tail when comparing them side by side.