蛇菰科共有17属约120种，广泛分布在全世界的热带和亚热带地区，中国只有2属——蛇菰属和双柱蛇菰属，共16种，分布在南方各地。

本科植物为寄生草本植物，一年生或多年生，肉质，外形类似真菌，没有叶绿素和气孔，一般寄生在树木 的根上；地下茎块 状，和寄主的根连接，地上茎直 立；叶退化成鳞片状，互生；花小， 单性，雌雄异株或同株，密集成花序，雄花无花被或 有3－8裂，雌花无花被；果实为核果或坚果。茎在南美作照明用，根状茎可制蜡，但这些植物产量不大，无商业价值。

The Balanophoraceae (from the inflorescence which appears to be covered by barnacles) are a subtropical to tropical family of obligate parasitic flowering plants, notable for their unusual development and obscure affinities. The family consist of 17 genera and around 50 species. The plants are normally found in moist inland forests growing on tree roots and have an aboveground inflorescence with the overall appearance of a fungus, composed of numerous minute flowers. The inflorescences develop inside the tuberous underground part of the plant, before rupturing it and surfacing. The plants are monoecious, or dioecious, and the fruits are indehiscent drupes or nuts. The underground portion, which attaches itself to the host, looks like a tuber, and is not a proper root system. The plants contain no chlorophyll. Balanophora means "bearing an acorn" (shape of the female inflorescence).