[1] Species of this family have resupinate to effused-reflexed basidiocarps, smooth to spiny hymenophores, amyloid spores, dimitic hyphae, and cause white rot.

[5] He recognized six species in the genus Echinodontium (E. tinctorium, E. tsugicola, E. ballouii, E. japonicum, E. taxodii and E. sulcatum) with hymenia ranging from smooth to spiny.

The insects eat the fungus and help disperse the species by inoculating the wood of the host tree with either hyphal fragments or spores when they lay their eggs.

[11] The specific epithet tinctorium makes reference to the usage of fruit bodies (commonly known as the "indian paint fungus") by Native Americans to prepare red pigments.

[13] Another species, E. ballouii, known only from two collections on Atlantic white cedar, has not been found since 1909, coinciding with a reduction in the range of this tree due to harvesting.