The Hapalopilaceae are a small family of poroid wood-decaying fungi in the Polyporales, characterised by soft, often brightly coloured fruitbodies and a tendency toward brown-rot decay. Basidiomes are typically annual, fleshy to corky, and may be pileate, effused-reflexed, or resupinate. Pores are small to medium, usually round, and the context is often soft, watery, or spongy when fresh.

The Bjerkandera are soft, annual, wood-rotting polypores producing thin, effused-reflexed to bracket-like fruitbodies with a grey to brownish, often zonate upper surface. Species cause a white rot in dead hardwoods, occasionally conifers.