Elatinaceae is a family of flowering plants with ca 35 (to perhaps 50) species in two genera:[2] Elatine and Bergia.

[3] The Elatine are mostly aquatic herbs, and the Bergia are subshrubs to shrubs.

[3] Elatine species are widely distributed throughout the world from temperate to tropical zones, with its greatest diversity found in temperate zones.

[3] Member of the family have bisexual flowers, usually small flowers, single, or in cymes, with two to five overlapping petals.

The plants have opposite or whorled leaves, which may have glands along their margins, and have stipules.