 The type genus is "Paxillus", containing fungi with decurrent gills, and "Gyrodon", which has members with decurrent pores, among others.French mycologist René Maire had erected the family in 1902, placing it between the agarics and boletes and recognizing the groups' similarities with the latter group.Maire's usage of the name was later deemed to be invalid, and the genus authority is attributed to Johannes Paulus Lotsy.