Red Heart, caused by Fomes pini USDA Forest Service Forest Health Protection, Southern Region Red Heart, caused by Fomes pini Importance.
Infected trees suffer a loss of merchantable volume, in addition to being structurally unsound.
The trees are valued, however, as woodpecker nesting sites. Identifying the Fungus. The fungus produces perennial conks, which are frequently hoof-shaped. Those that are not, lie flat against the stem, projecting a light brown surface outward. Hoof-shaped conks have a dull gray to dark brown upper surface, with concentric furrows parallel to the margin.