The family Bolbitiaceae is characterised by species with bright brown spore prints (rust brown to ochraceous),
smooth or ornamented spores, generally with a germ pore. Pleurocystidia are absent.
The family comprises 8 genera of small agarics some of which are widely distributed. Three common genera are
Bolbitius (with greasy or viscid cap), Conocybe (with lecythiform cystidia) and Pholiotina, all of which have a
hymeniform pileipellis.
In general the Bolbitiaceae are a family of small agarics, drab in colour and often missed in the field. The genus
Agrocybe previously in Bolbitiaceae, has now been transfered to Strophariaceae.