''Limeum'' is a genus of

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s. It includes 25 species. ''Limeum'' has traditionally been recognized as belonging to the

Molluginaceae The Molluginaceae are a 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 to the APG II syst ...

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

, but is now treated as the sole genus in the 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-based, system of plant taxonomy being developed by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG). Published in 2009, it was superseded in 2016 by a fur ...

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

Caryophyllales Caryophyllales ( ) is a diverse and heterogeneous order of flowering plants that includes the cacti, carnations, amaranths, ice plants, beets, and many carnivorous plants. Many members are succulent, having fleshy stems or leaves. The betalai ...

. ''Limeum'' comprises subshrub and herbaceous species native to tropical, eastern and southern

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent, after Asia in both cases. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of Earth's total surface area ...

, and

South Asia South Asia is the southern subregion of Asia, which is defined in both geographical and ethno-cultural terms. The region consists of the countries of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.;;;;;;;; ...

. 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 Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

was 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 flowers ...

Species list

''Limeum'' contains the following species:

References

Caryophyllales genera Caryophyllales {{Caryophyllales-stub