The Anisophylleaceae are a small family with four genera and about 70 species,[1] in the order Cucurbitales, according to the APG II.

Previously, this family was categorized under its own order, Anisophylleales, by Takhtajan in 1997.

It is a pantropical family of shrubs and medium-sized to fairly large trees, occurring in wet, tropical forests and swamps of America, Africa and Asia.

The palmately veined leaves have a rather leathery texture, entire margins, and are often asymmetrical at the base.

Modern molecular phylogenetics suggest the following relationships:[2][3] Cucurbitaceae (outgroup) Combretocarpus Polygonanthus Poga Anisophyllea