[1] Native to western North America, this saprotrophic fungus only colonizes the wood of Ceanothus,[2] Adenostoma,[3] and Arctostaphylos.

[4] However, in part due to the "economic insignificance of its hosts," P. arctostaphyli is relatively poorly studied as an individual species.

[5] The conks or hoofs (basidiocarps) appear perennially, are tough and woody themselves, with tiny pores on the underside and black to gray rings on top that are prone to fracturing longitudinally.

[3] This species was first described by William Henry Long in 1917 as Fomes arctostaphyli.

[6] In 1954, mycologist Josiah L. Lowe argued that it was a synonym of Fomes igniarius.