The Celastraceae (staff-vine or bittersweet) are a family of 98 genera[3] and 1,350 species[4] of herbs, vines, shrubs and small trees, belonging to the order Celastrales.

The great majority of the genera are tropical, with only Celastrus (the staff vines), Euonymus (the spindles) and Maytenus widespread in temperate climates, and Parnassia (bog-stars) found in alpine and arctic climates.

Six of these 19 genera (Brexiella, Evonymopsis, Hartogiopsis, Polycardia, Ptelidium, and Salvadoropsis) are endemic to Madagascar.

[5] These genera each have distinctive traits and functions of their own.

[6] 98 genera are accepted by Plants of the World Online as of November 2024[update]:[3]