Cerrenaceae are a family of wood-rotting basidiomycetes producing resupinate, effused-reflexed, or bracket-like fruitbodies. The hymenophore is typically poroid to daedaleoid, sometimes strongly maze-like, with thin, pale to brownish tubes. Context tissue is usually white to cream, fibrous, and relatively thin.

Species are saprobic on dead hardwoods, occasionally on conifers. They cause a white rot, breaking down lignin and leaving pale, fibrous wood. Fruiting bodies may persist for months but are often thin and easily overlooked. Distribution Cerrenaceae are widespread globally, especially in temperate and subtropical forests. In New Zealand, the family is represented by a small number of species, though several collections remain poorly resolved due to limited microscopic and molecular study.

Cerrena is a genus of wood-rotting basidiomycetes producing thin, bracket-forming or effused-reflexed fruitbodies with a poroid to strongly daedaleoid (maze-like) hymenophore. The upper surface is typically zonate, tomentose, or finely hairy, often in shades of grey, brown, or buff. Context tissue is white to cream, fibrous, and relatively thin. The hymenophore is the key feature: pores are elongated, labyrinthine, or split into irregular channels, sometimes resembling Lenzites but with a more poroid-to-daedaleoid transition rather than true gills.