The genus has a widespread, cosmopolitan distribution and contains about 300 species.

[2] Many of the species now classified in the Gymnopus genera were once assigned to Collybia.

In 1997 it was suggested that the genus Collybia be split into three genera, one of them being Gymnopus.

[3][4] In general, Gymnopus fruiting bodies are found in leaf and woody litter.

Typically the fruiting bodies are relatively small and range from browns to white in color.