Cap: applanate to centrally depressed; 30 - 50 mms diameter; regularly zoned in alternating bands of cream to fawn and brown, darker at center, with a cream outer ring.  

Stipe: central, cylindrical; 60 - 100 × 4 - 8 mms; brown, velutinate; attached to roots or wood.

Pores: adnate to subdecurrent; 3 - 5 per mm; white to cream; bruising red; turned brown by the spores.

Flesh: thick and woody, pale brown staining vinaceous on bruising then slowly black.

Spore print: brown.

Spores:

Notes: This fungus can be recognized by its smooth zoned cap with alternating pale and dark zones, tall stipe attached to buried wood and small pores staining red brown when damaged.