[10] The pileus are 2–8 centimetres (1–3 inches) in diameter, convex or applanate, finally shallowly concave with a downward curved margin, entirely covered by a thick cottony pale grey-brown felt which disrupts into very prominent darker pyramidal warts to 0–5 cm (0–2 in) high.

Below the black annulus the stem of young fruitbodies is at first densely spotted with very dark grey to almost black floccose scales, which soon disappear leaving the lower part of the stem densely flecked with delicate, dark blackish brown, hair-like fibrils with recurved tips on a dirty salmon to bright tawny background, finally passing into blackish grey-brown on the rooting base.

[3] Structure of warts on pileus comprising chains of basically erect, thin-walled, hyaline, cylindric or barrel-shaped elements with pale brown sap and clamp-connections at the septa, reaching to 255/mi in length, and to 43/mi in width, in the lower portion of the warts the elements are often more fusiform, in the apical portion they are shorter and less regularly arranged.

Structure of annulus similar to warts on pileus, consisting of chains of barrel-shaped, thin-walled, hyaline, clamp-bearing segments to 120/mi long and to 23pm wide.

[11] S. inopinata was previously thought to be mycorrhizal, forming associations with New Zealand plants (both native and introduced), including kōwhai, broadleaves, pine, Lawson Cypress and yew.