Saccardo (1883) erected the subgenus Brunaudia for the single species Triblidium phormigenum, dedicating the new subgeneric name to the French mycologist Paul Brunaud. Lindau (1879) listed Brunaudia with a question mark amongst the synonyms of Tryblidiella (invalidly published. Art. 34). Later, Kuntze (1898) raised subgenus Brunaudia [as "Bruneaudia"] to the rank of the genus, synonymized it with Triblidium Dufour (non Rebent.), and transferred in it a group of species, also including taxa from Triblidiella Sacc. Rehm (1904) considered Brunaudia to be a typical hysteriaceous taxon: "... welche zu den echten Hysteriaceen zu rechnen ist". The generic name Brunaudia has not been mentioned in most mycological literature (e.g. in Oudemans 1924, Clements & Shear 1931), but is cited in Fan- et al. (1979) with a note that it was: "... Published as a substitute name for Tryblidium Dufour 1828 (nom. inval.). FUNGI [caet.]-helotiales (109)", and also in editions of the Dictionary of the Fungi and the Outline as a possible synonym of Rhytidhysteron. However, we can see no nomenclatural obstacle to its use, and it clearly has nothing to do with the Patellariaceae.

The thin-walled asci are without any apical thickenings, indicating that they are presumably unitunicate. The subcuticular and later erumpent habit of the apothecioid ascomata, and the absence of a developed exciple at the base of the type species suggest relationships with the members of the Rhytismataceae Chevall. However, this genus has no stromatic layer covering the hymenium and does not rupture either by a single slit (e.g. as in Lophodermium Chevall.) or by several radial splits (e.g. as in Coccomyces De Not. or Propolis Fr.). The mode of rupturing is, however, similar to that seen in Rhabdocline pseudotsugae Sydow, which opens by the overlying clypeus folding back in one piece. On the other hand, the genus resembles erumpent and marginate members of the Dermateaceae Fr. (e.g. Laetinaevia Nannf.), but differs in lacking a fleshy exciple of isodiametric and brown-walled cells, and the absence of spore discharge apparatus in the ascus apex.

Nevertheless, at the moment we consider that the genus Brunaudia is best placed tentatively in the Rhytismatales, but as incertae sedis rather than in a particular family.