使君子科有18属600余种，广泛分布于全球热带和亚热带地区，中国有5属，24种，主要生长在云南、广东和海南。

使君子科植物有乔木、灌木和藤本，叶互生或对生；花两性，稀单性，花萼4-5裂，花瓣4-5或缺；果实为核果、革质，有翅或有纵棱。

本科植物其中聚合果属、拉贡木属和榄李属是组成红树林的植物品种，有的品种是优良的木材，如科特迪瓦榄仁树（Terminalia ivorensis A.Chev.）俗称非洲梨木，海南榄仁（Terminalia hainanensis Exell）也是很有价值的木材，使君子（Quisqualis indica L.）是一种中药驱虫剂。

The Combretaceae are a family of flowering plants in the order Myrtales. The family includes about 600 species of trees, shrubs, and lianas in 18 genera. The family includes the leadwood tree, Combretum imberbe. Three genera, Conocarpus, Laguncularia, and Lumnitzera, grow in mangrove habitats (mangals). The Combretaceae are widespread in the subtropics and tropics. Some members of this family produce useful construction timber, such as idigbo from Terminalia ivorensis.