Pileus: convex when young, then centrally depressed; 50 - 100 mm diameter; rugulose or irregular, pruinose, matt; brownish black, margin entire.

Stipe: cylindrical; 20 - 60 × 10 - 15 mm; pruinose; concolorous with cap.

Gills: subdecurrent to decurrent; thick; pallid cream; usually with dark lamellar edge; lamellulae present in 2 unequal series.

Milk: white, unchanging on exposure to air.

Spores: white; subglobose; 8.6 – 10.6 × 8.2 – 10.1 µm, average Q = 1.1 ± 0.06; amyloid ridges forming an almost complete reticulum.

Habitat:

Notes: this dark, sepia coloured and robust Lactarius is easily recognised in the field. Whether the New Caledonia taxon is identical with those found in New Zealand and Australia has yet to be confirmed.