[1] This is one of several families that were separated from the Tricholomataceae as a result of phylogenetic analyses.

Taxa in the Mycenaceae are saprobic, have a cosmopolitan distribution, and are found in almost all ecological zones.

The extinct genus Protomycena, described from Burdigalian age Dominican amber found on the island of Hispaniola[3] is one of four known agaric genera in the fossil record.

Poromycena gracilis Poromycena manipularis Mycenoporella griseipora Prunulus rutilantiformis Prunulus pura Mycena galericulata A large-scale phylogenetic analysis study of the Agaricales published by a consortium of mycologists in 2002 adopted the name Mycenaceae for a strongly supported clade consisting of Dictyopanus, Favolaschia, Mycena, Mycenoporella, Prunulus, Panellus, Poromycena, and Resinomycena.

[5] Dictyopanus has since been wrapped into Panellus,[6] and both Poromycena[7] and Prunulus into Mycena.