The genus has a widespread distribution and contains about 50 species.

It was formerly classified within the now-obsolete order Lycoperdales, as the type genus which, following a restructuring of fungal taxonomy brought about by molecular phylogeny, has been split.

Lycoperdon is now placed in the family Agaricaceae of the order Agaricales.

The scientific name has been created with Greek words (lycos meaning wolf and perdomai meaning to fart)[citation needed] and based on several European dialects in which the mushroom name sounds like wolf-farts.

Most species are edible, ranging from mild to tasting distinctly of shrimp.