锁阳科只有1属2种，分布在地中海沿岸和中亚地区，中国有1种，主要分布在西北的**、甘肃和内蒙一带。

本科植物为寄生植物，肉质草本，暗红色或紫色；根状茎肥厚，有许多片状吸器；单叶互生，无叶绿素；花小，花被4－6，也有1－3或 7－8；果实为坚果。主要寄生在半日花科或豆科植物上。

1981年的克朗奎斯特分类法将其列在蛇菰科中，属于檀香目，1998年根据基因亲缘关系分类的APG 分类法认为应该单独分出一个科，但无法分在任何目中，2003年经过修订的APG II 分类法维持原分类。

Cynomorium is a genus of parasitic perennial flowering plants in the family Cynomoriaceae. The genus consists of only one species, Cynomorium coccineum (although one of its subspecies is sometimes treated as a separate species). Its wider relationships are uncertain. Common names include the misleading Maltese fungus or Maltese mushroom; also desert thumb, red thumb, tarthuth (Bedouin) and suo yang (Chinese). A rare or local species, it grows in dry, rocky or sandy soils, often in salt marshes or other saline habitats close to the coast. It has had a wide variety of uses in European, Arabic and Chinese herbal medicine.