Albatrellaceae

Albatrellaceae is a family of basidiomycete fungi in the class Agaricomycetes. It comprises several genera, the most prominent being Albatrellus, which gives the family its name. The composition of the family has varied with advances in molecular systematics, and some genera have been added or removed as relationships among species have become clearer.

Members produce fleshy to corky fruiting bodies that are often solitary or in clusters on the forest floor or on decaying wood. The fruit bodies exhibit a range of forms from cap-and-stem to more irregular or crust-like shapes. The hymenium is typically exposed on the underside of the cap and may be poroid (with pores), smooth, or glebulate depending on genus. Spores are generally colorless to pale, and microscopic features distinguish genera within the family.

Ecologically, Albatrellaceae species are mostly saprotrophic, feeding on decaying wood and litter, but some are suspected or proven to form ectomycorrhizal associations with trees. They occur worldwide, with higher diversity in temperate forests, especially in association with conifers and hardwoods.

Both field guides and taxonomic references note the difficulty of identifying species in Albatrellaceae without microscopic examination. The family is of interest to mycologists for its ecological roles and for the edibility of some species, though many are not widely consumed.