The Polygalaceae or the milkwort family are made up of flowering plants in the order Fabales.

[4] Under the Cronquist classification system, Polygalaceae were treated in a separate order of their own, Polygalales.

Polygalaceae are annual or perennial herbs, shrubs, trees or lianas.

[5] Its zygomorphic, hermaphrodite, bisexual flowers have 3-5 petals and 5 sepals.

[8][9][10][11][12][13] Modern molecular phylogenetics suggest the following relationships:[13][14][15][16][17][18] Surianaceae (outgroup) Xanthophyllum Moutabea Balgoya (now included in Moutabea) Eriandra Barnhartia Diclidanthera Atroxima Carpolobia Bredemeyera Acanthocladus Gymnospora Hebecarpa Badiera Securidaca Phlebotaenia Rhinotropis Comesperma Ancylotropis Monnina Asemeia Caamembeca Hualania Heterosamara Polygaloides Polygala subgen.