刺莲花科包括15-20属约200-260余种，主要分布在美洲和非洲，一般为一年生、二年生或多年生草本植物，也有部分种类为灌木甚至小乔木。多植株常被刺毛，触之奇痛。花艳丽。

1981年的克朗奎斯特分类法将其列入堇菜目，1998年根据基因亲缘关系分类的APG 分类法将其放入山茱萸目。

Loasaceae is a family of 15–20 genera and about 200–260 species of flowering plants in the order Cornales, native to the Americas and Africa. Members of the family include annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous plants, and a few shrubs and small trees.