Trametes versicolor is a common polypore mushroom which can be found throughout the world. It is commonly known as Turkey Tail because of its resemblance to the tail of wild turkey. It is recognized as a medicinal mushroom in Chinese medicine under the name yun zhi.
The top surface of the cap consists of concentric zones of different colors. The cap is flat, often triangular or round, 8 x 5 cm, leathery-textured and 1-3 mm thick. The mushroom usually grows in tiled layers.
Trametes versicolor contains Polysaccharide-K, a protein-bound polysaccharide, which is used as an immune system boosting agent in the treatment of cancer. It can reduce mutagen-induced, radiation-induced, and spontaneously-induced cancer development.
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