Spore print rusty brown. Cap about 5-10 cm diam., typically sticky or glutinous, with irregular, scale-like patches, often striate near the margin; stalk with a well-developed, persistent, striate ring.

Molecular studies have shown that the characters used to recognise Rozites (glutinous cap and striate ring) have evolved indepently several times. Most New Zealand species of Rozites have now been placed in a very broadly-defined Cortinarius .

Like all Cortinarius species, Rozites is ectomycorrhizal, mostly under Nothofagus, but R. australiensis (= Cortinarius australiensis) is found under tea tree.

Rozites can be confused with Descolea - also mycorrhizal under Nothofagus and tea tree and also with a persistent, striate ring on the stalk. Descolea differs in microscopic characters, and most species are smaller than Rozites, and they typically have a dry cap.