The Bolbitiaceae are a family of small to medium-sized agarics characterised by fragile, thin-fleshed fruitbodies, brown spore prints, and a hymeniderm (cellular) pileipellis, a key microscopic feature uniting the group. Most members are saprotrophic, occurring in grasslands, lawns, dung, compost, or rich soil, though a distinct Gondwanan lineage (e.g., Descolea, Descomyces) is ectomycorrhizal. Caps are typically conical to campanulate, often hygrophanous, with stems long and slender. Genera such as Bolbitius, Conocybe, Pholiotina, and Panaeolina are common worldwide, while Descolea and its relatives are more restricted. Molecular work has reshaped the family, removing Agrocybe and confirming the placement of Descolea within Bolbitiaceae.