Melanoleuca is a poorly known genus of saprotrophic mushrooms traditionally classified in the family Tricholomataceae.

[6] DNA studies have determined that this genus is closely related to Amanita and Pluteus and that it does not belong to the family Tricholomataceae.

However the identification of its individual species is difficult due to a lack of clear macroscopic features; the delimiting characters used in descriptions and keys are such properties as the shape of cheilocystidia (if any are present), the size and ornamentation of the spores, and the structure of the pileipellis.

[9] One recent paper dedicated to these mushrooms describes them as "one of the less appealing fungal genera" and "mostly tedious and drab in appearance and dull in pileus colours".

[4][5] DNA studies have confirmed Melanoleuca as monophyletic (and definitely separate from genus Leucopaxillus, which is morphologically similar and previously thought to be allied).

Matheny et al.[8] performed a phylogenetic analysis of the Agaricales based on six-gene regions, including sequences of M. verrucipes.

In this analysis Melanoleuca, Pluteus and Volvariella were recovered as a monophyletic group and closely related with the aquatic gasteromycete Limnoperdon.

Justo et al. performed a molecular phylogeny of the family Pluteaceae and found Melanoleuca to be the sister group to a clade composed of Pluteus and Volvopluteus.

[12] Melanoleuca species are saprotrophic; growing on soil in grasslands, deciduous and evergreen forests, and sand dunes.