肉豆蔻科是一类显花植物，《克朗奎斯特分类法》和2003年的《APG II 分类法》都将其分入木兰目，是被子植物中比较原始的一类。

肉豆蔻科包括大约有20个属，几百种，有灌木也有乔木，主要生长在热带地区，全球的热带地区都有分布，最常见的是肉豆蔻属和蔻木属。

各属：

The Myristicaceae are a family of flowering plants. The family is present in Europe, Asia, and the Americas and has been recognised by most taxonomists. It is sometimes called the "nutmeg family", after its most famous member, Myristica fragrans, the source of the spices nutmeg and mace. The best known genera are Myristica and Virola.