Tough-fleshed mushrooms found on fallen wood, characterised by the hairy pale scales on the dark cap, and the ragged edge to the gills. Stalk slightly darkened towards base, tough, no ring. Spore print white. Saprobic.

Could be confused with some species of Gymnopilus, but these have brown spore prints. Armillaria has a similar, tough stalk and white spores, but has a ring on the stalk and grows in large groups, whereas Lentinula is more often solitary or in small groups. Tricholompsis also on wood and with white spores, can be distinguiished by its bright yellow gills.