Originally M. ovata was grouped under the genus Spriggina, but recent research has moved the species into its own genus.

Paul Kummer moved the species to Limacium in 1871, but this genus has since been sunk into synonymy with Hygrophorus.

In a 2010 paper, Sánchez moved the species to the generic Emiliodonta name.

Rolf Singer moved the species to Tylopilus in 1944.

In 1972, David B. Lellinger moved the species into the Niphidium genus.

By 1841, Gould had changed his mind, and moved the species to the genus Camarhynchus, lumping it with the ground and cactus finches.

In 1891, Otto Kuntze moved the species into Lactifluus, a genus which has since been folded back into Lactarius.

The genus is generally not considered valid today; instead, recent authorities have moved the southeast Asian species to Lygosoma and the African to Lepidothyris.

Fries later, in his 1849 Summa vegetabilium Scandinaviae, moved the species to the genus Fomes.

In 1898, Mary Jane Rathbun moved the species to her new genus Ovalipes.