''Limeum'' is a genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s. It includes 25 species. The genus ''Limeum'' was traditionally recognized as belonging to the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Molluginaceae The Molluginaceae are a family (biology), family of flowering plants recognized by several taxonomists. It was previously included in the larger family Aizoaceae. The APG III system of 2009 made no change in the status of the family as compared ...

, but is now treated as the sole genus in the

monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unisp ...

family Limeaceae. The family is newly recognized through research by the

Angiosperm Phylogeny Group III system The APG III system of flowering plant classification is the third version of a modern, mostly Molecular phylogenetics, molecular-based, list of systems of plant taxonomy, system of plant taxonomy being developed by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group ( ...

to deal with long-standing phylogenetic difficulties in placing various genera within the

Caryophyllales Caryophyllales ( ) is a diverse and heterogeneous order of flowering plants with well-known members including cacti, carnations, beets, quinoa, spinach, amaranths, pigfaces and ice plants, oraches and saltbushes, goosefoots, sundews, Venu ...

. ''Limeum'' comprises subshrub and herbaceous species native to tropical, eastern and southern Africa, and South Asia. Previously, the genus ''

Macarthuria ''Macarthuria'' is a genus of dicotyledonous plants belonging to the family Macarthuriaceae, and consists of about 9 species which are endemic to Australia. Description Plants in the genus, ''Macarthuria'', are rigid or wiry herbs or subshrubs. ...

'' from Australia was also placed here, but it now is found to belong to

Macarthuriaceae Macarthuriaceae is a family of plants in the order Caryophyllales and consists of a single genus, '' Macarthuria''. Description Macarthuriaceae are rigid or wiry, rush-like herbs or subshrubs with green stems and reduced leaves. The small flower ...

Species list

''Limeum'' contains the following species:

References

Caryophyllales genera Caryophyllales {{Caryophyllales-stub