Phellinus pini

Phellinus pini (Thore) A. Ames. (illustrated 20% life size) Bracket 2–20cm across, 1–15cm thick; hoof- or fan-shaped, or shelf-like, generally curved; tawny to dark reddish-brown or brownish-black in age, margin often brighter; hard, crusty, rough or cracked, minutely hairy. Stem minute or absent. Flesh tough; tawny to tan or ochre. Tubes up to 6mm deep. Pores circular to angular; dingy yellow-tawny. Spores 4–6×3.5–5¼, globose or subglobose, smooth. Spore print brown. Habitat singly or in rows on living or recently dead coniferous trunks; perennial. Uncommon in Britain, most collections reported from Scotland. Not edible. Note this very destructive fungus attacks the heartwood of living trees, resulting in ‘conk rot’ and causing more timber losses than any other fungus.