仙茅科也叫小金梅草科，是一个小科，只包括约7属150余种，都是草本植物，和普通杂草相似，叶根生或基生，通常有显着的平行叶脉或具折扇状叶脉；花生在花茎上，花瓣为三的倍数，辐射对称；果实为蒴果或假浆果；具有块茎或球茎。

1981年的克朗奎斯特分类法将其中各属分散划在百合目各科中，1998年根据基因亲缘关系分类的APG 分类法将其单独列为一个科，属于新设立的天门冬目。

Hypoxidaceae is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots.

The family has only recently been recognized by taxonomists. The APG III system of 2009 (unchanged from the 1998 and 2003 versions) does recognize this family. The family consists of probably over half-a-dozen genera totalling some one hundred to two hundred species.