Scaly knight or Red banded webcap

Cap 5-12 cm across, hemispherical with an inrolled margin in young mushrooms, later becoming convex with a low umbo. Color red-brown, brick, russet-brown, with a pinkish tint when young. Surface velvety and dryish, with fine radial fibers. The cap margin is thin, with pinkish veil remnants in young mushrooms.

Cap 3-8 cm across, when young distinctly conical or bell-shaped, becoming with age flat-conical with a low, broad umbo. The cap skin is dry, fibrous-scaly with distinctly raised fine scales, especially toward the margin (where the scales are often curled back). Color rusty chestnut-red, with a darker center and a paler margin, slightly darker in wet weather. The margin is inrolled when young, with felty veil remnants.

Gills — attached to the stem, moderately spaced. In young mushrooms light pinkish brown, becoming with age rusty brown, dark brick as the spore powder ripens. Spore print rusty brown. In young mushrooms the gills are covered by a cobweb-like partial veil (cortina).

Gilled hymenophore — the gills are sinuately attached to the stem, moderately crowded, fleshy. When young — whitish, becoming with age cream-colored with distinct rusty spots on the edges and surface — a characteristic feature. Spore print white.

Stem 8-15 cm tall, 1-2.5 cm thick, cylindrical, long, thickened toward the base. Color brownish cream, with 2-4 distinct red-orange ring-like "bracelet" bands on the lower half — the diagnostic feature of the species. The surface has fine lengthwise fibers. Near the top there is a faint band left by the cobwebby cortina.

Stem 4-8 cm tall, 0.7-1.5 cm thick, cylindrical, hollow inside when old. Color whitish at the top, brownish-chestnut and scaly-fibrous below. The surface is dry and fibrous, with characteristic raised scales similar to those on the cap. No ring.

Flesh firm, brownish cream. When cut, it does not change color. Smell faint; in some populations with a hint of radish.

Flesh thin, brittle, whitish to cream; where cut it turns pinkish or slowly takes on a brownish-red tint. Smell faintly mealy or unpleasantly musty, taste distinctly bitterish and astringent.

Faint and neutral; in some populations with a subtle radish or resinous note.

Faintly mealy with a hint of rotting wood, not especially pleasant.