Members of the Hymenogastraceae family, Phaeocollybias are uncommonly encountered forest dwellers found mostly in old growth forests. With several dozen named species, P. kaufmanii is perhaps the most common of the group. It is part of a complex of 8 rather similar species, but can usually be identified fairly easily in the field. It features an orange to brownish orange cap, that keeps an inrolled margin even when fully expanded. Caps are smooth, viscid and often weakly zoned. It is usually found in arcs or clustered as depicted. It is large species with caps ranging from 5-15cm or more. The gills are buff, but with age become golden brown. They are ventricose and crowded and either free or narrowly attached. The stalks features a n upper portion of up to 6cm that becomes a vertical pseudorhiza (root) as it enters and penetrates the soil to a depth of as much as 40cm. It is solid, pithy and never hollow. It enlarges from the top towards its substrate and then tapers as it penetrates downward. Pinkish buff at the apex it darkens to reddish brown below. The flesh is pinkish white but slowly stains orange brown on air exposure. The odor is slightly farinaceous and the taste more unpleasantly so. The gills drop a deposit ofcinnamon brown spores. It is possibly toxic and should not be consumed.