This species has been known as Descolea gunnii for the past century, which is incorrect; D. gunnii is a secotioid species from Australia and not present in New Zealand. Our common Descolea species is not named; it is an ectomycorrhizal species occurring in both Nothofagus and Leptospermum forests. It is characterised by a brown, fibrillose-squamulose cap, a striated annulus, and limoniform, verrucose spores.

Cap: 10-45 mm diameter. Hemispherical when young, later convex or umbonate. Dark date-brown to umber brown, becoming ochraceous in old specimens. Hygrophanous. Always striate near the margin. Densely and permanently covered with appressed fibrillose squamules of rusty to dark ochraceous colour.
Gills: Adnate to adnexed. Pale to ochraceous, darkening with age. Moderately spaced.
Stipe: Central, with a membranous, striate annulus (a key genus feature). Surface pale to brownish, sometimes fibrillose.