Exoperidium: breaking in to 6 - 10 rays, strongly recurved, arched; binding debris; 20 - 60 mm diameter; rays whitish when fresh.

Stipe: present; conical; 3 - 15 × 2 - 5 mm; dark grey to sepia.

Endoperidium: globose, depressed globose; 10 - 30 mm; glabrous, smooth or finely warty; grey to blue grey; lower surface folded, plicate.

Peristome: raised, plicate (pleated); pleats are darker than endoperidium but on a pale disc with a clearly defined edge.  

Flesh: thin.

Spore print: brown ochraceous.

Spores:

Notes: this earthstar is recognised by its prominent grey stalk, pale coloured rays and plicate peridium. There has been much debate over the years about whether there is only one species with these characters (see Palmer) or whether G. plicatum, G. pectinatum and G. tenuipes are separate species. In 2017 G. tenuipes seemed to be the most likely name for this species.