A family of dicotyledonous plants, chrysanthemum subclass. Parasitic herbs, no chlorophyll, or only a little chlorophyll. The leaves are scaly and alternate. Flowers are solitary in leaf axils or bud axils, often integrated into terminal racemes or spikes, bisexual, calyx 2-5-lobed, corolla 5-lobed, 2-lipped, lobes imbricate. Stamens 4, 2 strong, attached to the corolla, pistil is composed of 2 (sparse 3) carpels, ovary is superior, often 1 room, there are many inverted ovules, and the back of the capsule is split. There are 13 genera 180 species. Mainly produced in Eurasia in the north temperate zone, and a few in America and tropical regions. Lophantine is the largest, including 140 species.