As Turkey tail ages it becomes flatter, thinner, less flexible and is often covered by a fine green algae, the underside pore surface also turns from a fresh white/cream colour to grey/brown. The density of the gills, the color, the shape all matter. At this stage its not at its best. Wrap the onions in a small piece of heavy-duty foil, and seal to close. . Stereum ostrea [ Basidiomycetes > Russulales > Stereaceae > Stereum . These visible pores are a key indicator that you have stumbled upon a true Turkey Tail mushroom, as if the underside is smooth or covered with gills or teeth, then you’re looking at a look-alike. Trametes versicolor [ Basidiomycetes > Polyporales > Polyporaceae > Trametes . Spore print white. by Michael Kuo. Yeah, especially for turkey tails. Stalk not present. The multicolor gill polypore (Lenzites betulina) has a gill-like underside. Return to top . Cut it off before cooking, along with the skin. Tooth Fungi . . Since I’d never cooked turkey tail before, I was determined to not reinvent the wheel. I know from personal experience that any sack of fluids you slice into while butchering is bad news. "Polypore" gives us barely any info about the underside. Yet another method of spore dispersal is through teeth (also called spines). Similarly, telling us the mushroom has gills doesn't really help an ID. True turkey tail, Trametes versicolor, is a “polypore” (many pored) fungus. Underside of Trametes (L) and Stereum (R) Here’s a look at two pics showing the true turkey tail (trametes versicolor) on the left, and it’s look similar, the “false” turkey tail (stereum ostrea) to the right. . The tiny tiny tiny pores are an identifying characteristic. Lookalikes: The "true" turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) has pores on the underside. Mushroom pores appear as small holes on the underside of the cap. Spores magnified are cylindrical, smooth. Stereum ostrea is often called the "False Turkey Tail," since it mimics Trametes versicolor.Like the "true" Turkey Tail, Stereum ostrea has a colorful, somewhat fuzzy cap that displays zones of brown, red, orange, buff, and green colors. True turkey tail, Trametes versicolor, is a “polypore” fungus with a while porous underside. The medicinal properties of this fungi have been extolled on the Internet, but according to mushroom expert Michael Kuo (www.mushroomexpert.com ), “The only health benefits associated with consuming Trametes versicolor result from the exercise involved with hunting for it in the woods.” There are a number of Turkey tail lookalikes including Trametes pubescens and Trametes hirsuta. Turkey tail may be a promising natural treatment in conjunction with other therapies, but confirming its benefits will require further research in humans. False Turkey Tails have a smooth non-porous underside , usually beige in color. Underside buff-colored, smooth. On the underside of every tail, you’ll find a gland full of the oil that birds use for preening. Place the turkey tails, bottom side down, on the wire rack, leaving about ½ inch around each tail. by Michael Kuo. On the underside of the fanned-out brackets, you’ll find a white or off-white surface full of tiny holes. . The good news is False Turkey Tails are not poisonous, although they are not particularly tasty or useful as far as we know. To tell the true turkey tail from its mimics, you need to look at the underside of these brackets. The difference between true and false is the size of the pores. Much like the true Turkey Tail though, the key to identifying it lies on the underside of the mushroom. Last medically reviewed on … Step 9 Bake the tails and the onions in the oven for about an hour, or until themeat is cooked done and the skins are crispy. Examples of these would be the reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) and the turkey tail (Trametes versicolor).