[2] The species Phellinus ellipsoideus (previously Fomitiporia ellipsoidea) produced the largest ever fungal fruit body.

[3][4] Phellinus species produce a number of natural chemicals which are of interest to science.

Scrapings from slightly charred fruit bodies were drunk with water to treat coughing, sore throats, "bad chests", fevers and diarrhoea.

[8] As of January 2025[update], Index Fungorum lists 81 species in the genus Phellinus.

Selected species include: The widespread species Fulvifomes robiniae was formerly considered within Phellinus, but was moved to the genus Fulvifomes when that genus was resurrected based on morphological and molecular phylogenetic evidence.