The Balanophoraceae are a subtropical to tropical family of obligate parasitic flowering plants, notable for their unusual development and formerly obscure affinities.

The plants are normally found growing on tree roots in moist inland forests and have an above ground inflorescence with the overall appearance of a fungus, composed of numerous minute flowers.

In the classification system of Dahlgren, the Balanophoraceae were placed in the order Balanophorales in the superorder Balanophoriflorae (also called Balanophoranae).

The cladogram below shows the relationships obtained (using the broad APG IV circumscriptions of Olacaceae and Santalaceae).

As of July 2021[update], the broadly circumscribed family was accepted by Plants of the World Online, which included the following genera.