Characteristically most form chrysocystidia and rather large, smooth, violaceous basidiospores each with a prominent germ pore (as Stropharia subg.

It is differentiated from Stropharia by production of astrocystidia on its mycelium rather than by acanthocytes that Stropharia produces.

[3][4][5][6] Phylogenetically, Protostropharia is distinct from Stropharia, Pholiota, and Leratiomyces.

[7][8] Two species, P. luteonitens and P. tuberosa, form pseudosclerotia in the dung substrates.

[9][10] The name Protostropharia refers to the less anatomically complex astrocystidia (Greek proto-) as compared to the acanthocytes in Stropharia.