Phellinus wahlbergii is characterised by hooked setae and subglobose, hyaline spores, 4-5.5 x 3.5-5 µm. Cunningham (1965: 222) mistakenly included F. uncatus as a synonym of Phellinus setulosus (Lloyd) Imaz. but the latter is tropical, typically ungulate, and has large, ventricose, straight setae and larger spores. Australasian specimens included by Cunningham under P. setulosus and P. zealandicus (Cooke) G.H. Cunn. are considered to be conspecific with P. wahlbergii.
A single type collection for F. uncatus was not designated by Cunningham (1948b). Two collections, PDD 5776 and PDD 5777 have the same data as given in the protologue for the type , except for the date, May 1947 vs June 1947. An error in citation of the date in the protologue is suggested. PDD 5776 is herein designated the lectotype of F. uncatus; this specimen has a majority of setae with hooked apices whereas setae in PDD 5777 are mostly straight.
Cunningham (1948b, 1965) described the rot caused by this fungus as brown but as with all species of Phellinus the rot is white.

Type: Lignicolous Fungi; Description: Basidiomata perennial, solitary or with overlapping pilei, leathery to woody, attached by a broad lateral base. Pilei applanate, occasionally effused-reflexed, 50–250 mm wide, 5–20 mm thick. Pileus surface tomentose, narrowly banded in sulcate to flat zones, reddish brown to umber. Pore surface even, deep rusty brown to chestnut brown; pores small, 7–8 per mm. Context chestnut brown, up to 5 mm thick. Hyphal system dimitic. Setae hooked or less commonly straight, or both hooked and straight in the same fruiting body, acuminate, 15–30 × 6–9 μm, dark brown. Basidiospores subglobose, 4–5 × 3–4 μm, smooth, hyaline to pale yellow.

Distribution: Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Taupo, Wellington, Westland, Southland, Stewart Island.; 1st Record: Cunningham (1948d: as Fomes hamatus — see Cunningham 1949); Buchanan & Ryvarden (2000).

Significance: The cause of a white-pocket rot in living trees, which has little significance.; Host(s): Dacrydium cupressinum, Dysoxylum spectabile, Elaeocarpus dentatus, E. hookerianus, Metrosideros excelsa, M. robusta, Nothofagus fusca, Weinmannia racemosa.