Unlike many Pholiotas the cap of this species is smooth. When fresh it is covered with slime that on drying leaves adherent material such as needles stuck to it. The cap color is reddish brown or orange brown as seen here. Caps may reach 5-6cm but usually are more like these at 15-30mm. It is a burn species that may grow from charred wood or be terrestrial at a burn site. The gills are close, attached to the stipe, and start whitish to yellow before turning brown with age. They drop cinnamon brown spore print. There is a veil initially covering the gills but it quickly disappears, often leaving a ring zone on the upper stalk. The stem is up to 1cm in width and 6 cm tall. It is whitish at the apex, yellowish centrally and darker basally. There are patches of scales or scurfy material scattered over the stem below the ring zone. There is no odor. Taste is usually mild, but it is not considered edible. It often grows in clusters