[5][4] It is most closely related to O. olivascans, O. olearius, and O. japonicus and has high cross compatibility with O. olivescans and O.

[4] The pileus has an orange to dark reddish brown surface that is convex to subexpanded and depressed to cone shaped in the center.

[13] The gills can be bioluminescent and can be orange, orange-brown, to reddish brown in color and darken with age.

[13] The stipe is firm, often has eccentric placement and is subequal with longitudinal lines running down it and a glabrous texture.

[4][14][3] It has been found through crossing studies and ITS sequencing that the genus Omphalotus comprises two distinct species complex clades.

[3] Crossing studies showed that O. subilludens had high compatibility with O. olearius and O. olivascens, yet all three species had low compatibility with O. illudens with O. subilludens and O. olivascens having dikaryon from only occurring in 1/3 of pairings with O.illudens and O. olearis having successful dikaryon in only 1/20 pairings with O.illudens.

[3] O. subilludens is a saprobe that colonizes the stumps and roots of dead and dying hardwoods and palms.

[4][5] O. subilludens is commonly found in hardwood forests and suburban areas where dead and dying trees occur.

[7][8] Although rarely life-threatening, the illudins contained in Omphalotus species can cause gastrointestinal distress and symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and sweating.

[9] Atromentin also possesses antibacterial activity, inhibiting the enzyme enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase (essential for the biosynthesis of fatty acids) in the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae.

[10] O. subilludens has been found to contain illudins, a group of compounds with great potential in cancer therapies and antibiotics.