Gasterocarp subglobose, tuberiform or irregular, often attached to fine rhizomorphs. Peridium well developed, dry, indehiscent. Gleba loculate, partially gelatinized, with small, irregularly arranged chambers, empty to partially filled. Hyphal system monomitic, with thin- to slightly thick-walled generative hyphae; clamp-connexions usually absent, rarely present. Stipe-columella absent. Spores statismosporic. symmetric, small to medium, allantoid, cylindric to broadly ovoid, hyaline, stramineous or pale brown, inamyloid, nondextrinoid, often with a slightly thickened, smooth wall, lacking an easily detached or conspicuous myxosporium; hilar appendix very short. Basidia lageniform to cylindrico-clavate, often collapsing or autolysing, bearing a variable number of sterigmata, mostly 4-, 6- or 8-spored. Cystidia absent; basidioles sometimes present. Hymenophoral trama narrow, regular, partially gelatinized or not so. Peridiopellis a repent epicutis of narrow hyphae. Hypogeal to subepigeal, forming ectomycorrhizal associations. World-wide. Type genus: Rhizopogon Fr. emend. Tulasne.