Polypores are also called bracket fungi, and their woody fruiting bodies are called conks. The disease spreads through the heartwood and fruiting bodies (conks in advanced decay) develop. The basidiocarps (fruiting body), conks, are the most apparent signs on infected trees. The conks produce the basidiospores on the underside and setae surround the basidia for protection. Signs of the fungus include shelf-shaped conks protruding from the trunks of trees. The conks are perennial, usually gregarious, imbricate, and shelve-shaped, about 3 inches wide. In order to diagnose aspen trunk rot, conks are the first sign to look for. The taste of both conks and felts is bitter and distinct for this species. Tommy finally spots the survivors, but his engine conks out. Joi's engine conks out, and she is forced to parachute to safety. It especially prefers "Populus tremuloides" trees that have conks of "Fomes fomentarius" var. "populinus". The Norman Conks would gather in a street which was roughly half a kilometre south. The largest mushrooms and conks are the largest known individual fruit bodies. Conks are perennial and can survive for up to twenty years. The distinctive conks can be large, as much as two feet long, hoof-shaped or columnar.