[2] According to Fitzpatrick, the family contained Mortierella, Herpocladium, Dissophora, and Haplosporangium.

[6] In 2018, due to DNA analysis, Echinochlamydosporium was transferred to the Calcarisporiellaceae family.

Colonies tend to be white or off-white and are characterized by zonate growth—that is, growing in rings—and an onion or garlic smell.

[2] Members of this genus typically are saprobes in soil, dung, and reproductive bodies of higher fungi, but there are facultative parasites.

[8] Members of this genus are thought to play significant roles in temperate forest ecosystems, though many are psychrophiles (requiring cold temperatures for growth) and are likely overlooked in soil samples incubated at room temperature.