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Spider Heart - Spider heart is a common feature in forest trees, especially white oaks. As the first crack forms, other cracks form that equalize the loading. Rarely will there be only one major crack or seam in a forest tree. Wetwood lubricates the cracks.

Radial cracks splitting outward from the central defect. It is not uncommon for oaks to have very small central columns of discolored and decayed wood, associated with wounds that were inflicted when the tree was very young. These became the starting points for cracks. This pattern is often called spiderheart or heartshake. The pattern is also common in planted pines that were injured at the time of planting. The same patterns and problems occur with orchard trees that receive wounds at the time of planting.