There is one family in the krameriaceae (ratany) genus: krameria, which has five US species out of a worldwide total of 17; found in the southern states, from California to Texas, and Florida.

Plants are perennial shrubs, parasitic on the roots of other species, producing woody stems that branch profusely. Leaves are sessile, unlobed, hairy and alternately arranged. Flowers form at the leaf nodes, usually singly; they are generally bilaterally symmetric, with five sepals, five petals and four stamens.