English: Turkey tail.
Synonyme:
Trametes versicolor; Coriolus versicolor; Polyporus versicolor.
German: Schmetterlings-Tramete.
Japanese: Kawaratake; Yun-zhi.
Chines: yun zhi.
Region: worldwide.
Habitat: favours damp, shady places; zonates its territory within the wood.
Content: lipids, ergosterol, fungisterol, hydroxymethylquinoline; PSK or krestin, a polysachharide; coriolan, anti-tumour polysaccharide.
MycologyThe top surface of the cap has typical concentric zones of different colours. The flesh is ± 2 mm thick and has leathery texture. Green algae can grow on older specimens. Caterpillars of the fungus moth Nemaxera betulinella and maggots of the Platypezid fly Polyporivora picta can eat the fungus.
Content: polysaccharides; PSP and β-1,3 and β-1,4 glucans; lanostane-type tetracyclic triterpenoid sterol ergosta-7,22,dien-3β-ol; fungisterol; β-sitosterol.
Use: traditional Chinese medicine; it is supposed to boost the immune system and have anticarcinogenic propertie, used in breast cancer, leukemias, and liver cancer.