Coryciinae was covered, along with the rest of the tribe Diseae, in volume 2 of Genera Orchidacearum, which was published in 2001. Molecular phylogenetic studies published after 2001 showed that Disperis is most closely related to Brownleea, rather than to the other genera of Coryciinae. They also showed that the tribe Diseae is paraphyletic over the tribe Orchideae. The smaller version of Coryciinae, with Disperis excluded, is known as Coryciinae sensu stricto, and has 41 species. All are from southern Africa except Pterygodium ukingense, which is from Tanzania. Most are from the Cape Floristic Region. There is a second center of diversity in the Drakensberg. Coryciinae s.s. is distinct and supported by five morphological characters.