[1] The red-to-yellow cap is convex initially, but later flattens and becomes depressed with a wavy edges; it is hygrophanous with small scales which can be seen with a magnifying glass.

The bare stem is often long, (up to 3 times the cap diameter) and tapering towards the base, with a tendency to flatten.

[2] The gills are orange, adnate (with a broad attachment to the stem) or slightly decurrent; widely spaced, and somewhat notched.

[2][4] A very similar (only recently described) species, H. helobi (Arnolds) Bon, appears earlier in the season; it prefers less acidic soils, and smells of garlic.

[6] In Britain it appears in autumn, particularly in frost-free periods, and prefers sandy heaths, grassy clearings, or unimproved fields.