[1] The genus contains black yeast-like fungi, some of which are species of important medical significance.

Cladophialophora bantiana causes the rare brain disease cerebral phaeohyphomycosis.

[2] Cladophialophora carrionii is a common cause of chromoblastomycosis in semi-arid climates.

[4] The genus was proposed in 1980 by Italian-born Venezuelan microbiologist and mycologist Dante Borelli.

The type species was assigned to Cladophialophora ajelloi, which was isolated from a Ugandan case of chromomycosis.