Gelsemiaceae is a family of flowering plants, belonging to the order Gentianales.

The eight species of Mostuea are native to tropical areas of South America, Africa, and Madagascar.

[2] Pteleocarpa was originally placed in Boraginaceae or in its own family Pteleocarpaceae, but it is most closely related to Gelsemiaceae with which it shares significant characters.

[3] It is distinguished by having no latex or stipules and by having heterostylous flowers with yellow to white corollas and superior ovaries.

In 2014, a molecular phylogenetic study of the lamiids (aka Garryidae) resolved the anomalous genus Pteleocarpa as sister to (other) Gelsemiaceae.