Aspen Bracket

Also known as Aspen Trunk Rot Fungus, Aspen Phellinus

Aspen brackets form hard, hoof-shaped woody caps that erupt directly from the trunks of living aspen trees. They cause a heart-rot decay that weakens the interior wood while leaving the outer shell standing, creating crucial hollows for cavity-nesting birds like woodpeckers and owls. Perennial fruiting bodies add a new pore layer each year, slowly developing a cracked, dark grey upper crust with a rich cinnamon-brown underside.