The
cap typically grows up to in diameter. Initially it is bell-shaped and often wrinkled when young. Later it expands to a convex shape. The cap can be deer-brown, but varies from light ochre-brown to dark brown, with a variable admixture of grey or black. The centre of the cap may be darker. The cap surface is smooth and matt to silky-reflective. The cap skin shows dark radial fibres when seen through a lens, indicating that the microscopic cuticle structure is filamentous. The
gills are initially white, but soon show a distinctive pinkish sheen, The spores are elliptical, smooth and measure approximately 7.0–8.0 × 5.0–5.5
μm. The
hyphae lack
clamp connections. The
cystidia are thick-walled with apical projections. The
spore print is pinkish brown.
Similar species Similar species include
Pluteus atromarginatus, which has a dark brown edge to the gills;
P. rangifer, a subarctic species;
P. elaphinus in eastern North America;
P. hongoi which typically has a paler cap and occurs in Eurasia and eastern North America; and
P. exilis which typically produces fruit bodies in spring and occurs in western North America. Similarly coloured species of
Entoloma have gills that are attached to the stipe (not free) and distinctive, angular spores. ==Distribution and habitat==