Conks are?

Conks are?

• A. Roots
• B. Shoots
• C. Fruit bodies of wood decay fungi
• D. Spores

Answer: (C)

Conks are the fruiting bodies of wood-decay fungi. These shelf- or hoof-shaped growths appear on trunks, limbs, or stumps and are the visible part of the fungus that colonizes and decays wood. They function to produce and disseminate spores, which is how the fungus spreads, but the conk itself is the reproductive structure, not a root, shoot, or spores. Their presence signals internal decay and potential structural weakness in the tree, which matters in turf settings where trees are near lawns or play areas. Managing them involves assessing tree safety and, if needed, removing decayed wood or consulting an arborist for options.

Conks are the fruiting bodies of wood-decay fungi. These shelf- or hoof-shaped growths appear on trunks, limbs, or stumps and are the visible part of the fungus that colonizes and decays wood. They function to produce and disseminate spores, which is how the fungus spreads, but the conk itself is the reproductive structure, not a root, shoot, or spores. Their presence signals internal decay and potential structural weakness in the tree, which matters in turf settings where trees are near lawns or play areas. Managing them involves assessing tree safety and, if needed, removing decayed wood or consulting an arborist for options.