Description: Basidiocarps perennial, ungulate, pileus 3-12 cm wide, pinkish becoming brown to black with age and then developing a black cuticle from the base, pores pinkish, round to irregular, 3-5 per mm, context pinkish brown, up to 3 cm thick.

Distribution: Circumboreal in the continental and alpine coniferous forests in Europe, Asia and North America. It also fructifies on old processed wood of large dimensions inside buildings. In Norway F. rosea is found in the continental South East up to Hedmark. There are three old records (40 and 70 years old) from Trøndelag.

Ecology: Continental species typically found in old-growth forests. This species is a rapid invader of fallen, moderately decayed Picea trunks with still attached bark. Several records have also been made on standing trees. Exceptionally, this species can grow on Pinus or on hardwoods like Alnus incana and Populus tremula in mesic and fertile forests. Fomitopsis rosea produces several small basidiocarps on the sides of relatively fresh trunks, ussually associated with other old-growth forests species such as Phlebia centrifuga, Phellinus ferrugineofuscus, Skeletocutis odora, and Amylocystis lapponica.

Remarks: Old specimens of F. rosea can sometimes be confused with F. pinicola. A small flame from a match on the pilear surface of the latter species will produce bubbling due to the presence of a resinous substance, which is absent in F. rosea. Included in the Norwegian Red list. Status of threat: V+ (conservation demanding).

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