A small family of gasteroid basidiomycetes characterised by globose to subglobose spore sacs (peridia) borne on a distinctive gelatinous or rubbery stipe. The peridium is brown or gray and typically shows a star-shaped or slit-like apical opening through which spores are released. The stipe is usually translucent, gelatinous, or cartilaginous, sometimes with internal chambers. Gleba is brown to olive-brown

Calostoma species are easily recognised by their gelatinous stalks, bright colours, and ornamented spores. They are sometimes mistaken for earthstars or stalked puffballs, but differ in their gel-stalked morphology and distinctive peridial opening.