Basidiocarps (fruit bodies) are dull-coloured and have dry caps, rather distant, decurrent lamellae, white spores, and smooth, ringless stems.

[3] Roger Heim had the year previously treated this group of species under the name Hodophilus,[4] but this was invalid because he did not include a Latin diagnosis for the genus, as was required by the rules of nomenclature at the time.

[5] Rolf Singer published Hygrotrama in March 1959 (with type species Hygrotrama dennisianum),[2] and the name Hodophilus (type species Hodophilus foetens) was validly published in 1958.

Previously placed in the family Hygrophoraceae based on its morphology,[5][6][7] Camarophyllopsis was shown using molecular phylogenetics to belong in the Clavariaceae.

[8] Subsequent research has also shown that the genus Hodophilus is distinct and separate from Camarophyllopsis.