青荚叶科只有一属—青荚叶属，共8种，原生于从喜马拉雅山区直到日本的广大区域，中国有约5种，分布于西北部、西南部和东部。

本可植物为落叶灌木；单叶互生，边缘有锯齿，托叶小；花小，单性，雌雄异株；雄花多至12朵，排成伞形花序生于叶面，稀生于枝上；雌花1－4朵聚生于叶面；花瓣3－5，雄蕊3－5；果实为一浆果状的核果。

1981年的克朗奎斯特分类法将这个属列入山茱萸科，2003年根据基因亲缘关系分类的APG II 分类法将其单独列为一个科，放到新设立的冬青目中。

The genus Helwingia consists of shrubs native to eastern Asia, the Himalayas, and northern Indochina. It is the only genus in the family Helwingiaceae.

The plants have alternate leaves and small inflorescences which are epiphyllous (growing from the leaves). They are from temperate regions of eastern Asia: for example China, Nepal, and Japan.