Limeaceae

Limeum L.

First published in Syst. Nat., ed. 10. 2: 995 (1759)
This genus is accepted
The native range of this genus is Africa, Arabian Peninsula, Iran to India.

Descriptions

M. Thulin et al. Flora of Somalia, Vol. 1-4 [updated 2008] https://plants.jstor.org/collection/FLOS

Morphology General Habit
Glabrous or, usually, sticky glandular-hairy herbs or (in Flora area only) shrubs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate or opposite, linear to orbicular; stipules absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescence a terminal cyme, often overtopped by later growth and thus apparently lateral, flowers sometimes apparently solitary
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers greenish, small
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 5, herbaceous
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Staminodes
Staminodes 0–5, arising from base of outer stamens, sometimes petaloid, free
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens mostly 5 outer + 2 inner, sometimes the 2 inner missing, filaments broadened below
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Ovary
Ovary 2-celled, styles 2, united at base; ovules 1 per cell
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Fruit separating into 2 mericarps Mericarps indehiscent, 1-seeded, ± globose or kidney-shaped, smooth, rugose or spiny, sometimes with broad membranous wing.
Distribution
About 23 species, mostly in South Africa but a few species extending northwards through eastern Africa to Sudan and one species extending from the Sahel to Pakistan.
Note
Species with broadly winged mericarps, such as L. angustifolium, have sometimes been placed in the genus Semonvillea. The species of Limeum so far examined lack both anthocyanins and betalains. The fruit is quite unlike that of any other member of the Molluginaceae or Aizoaceae s. lat. and the genus has recently been placed in Limeaceae along with the Australian Macarthuria Huegel ex Endl.
[FSOM]

Molluginaceae, M. L. Gonçalves. Flora Zambesiaca 4. 1978

Morphology General Habit
Glabrous or viscid, glandular-pubescent annual or perennial herbs or subshrubs.
Morphology Leaves
Leaves alternate, opposite or fasciculate, linear to orbicular, entire, sessile or petiolate, sometimes subsucculent, exstipulate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences terminal or lateral, cymose, often umbelliform, sessile or pedunculate, few- or many-flowered, lax or dense.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers hermaphrodite, whitish or greenish, small, more or less pedicellate.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Perianth
Perianth-segments 5, generally unequal, herbaceous, free.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Staminodes
Staminodes 0–5, generally petaloid, arising from the base of the stamens, free.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens (5)–7, hypogynous; filaments broadened below, inserted usually on hypogynous disk.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary superior, syncarpous, bicarpellate, 2-locular; style 1; stigmas 2.
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Mericarps indehiscent, 1-seeded, hemispheric-reniform, conical, truncate or compressed-orbicular, winged or wingless, often auricled at base, the outer face reticulate, rugose, spinescent or more or less smooth. Fruit separating into 2 mericarps.
[FZ]

Aïzoaceae, C. Jeffrey. Flora of Tropical East Africa. 1961

Morphology General Habit
Glabrous or viscid glandular-hairy annual or perennial herbs or sub-shrubs, rarely shrubs
Morphology Leaves
Leaves opposite or alternate, subulate, linear, lanceolate, ovate or orbicular, entire
Morphology Leaves Stipules
Stipules absent
Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences
Inflorescences cymose, terminal, often overtopped and then apparently lateral, sessile or pedunculate, few- or many-flowered, lax or glomerulate
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers
Flowers hermaphrodite, greenish, small
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx
Sepals 5, herbaceous, free
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Staminodes
Staminodes 0–5, arising from the base of the outer stamens, sometimes petaloid, free
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens
Stamens usually 7 (5 outer, 2 inner) sometimes 5, hypogynous; filaments broadened below
Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Gynoecium Pistil
Ovary superior, syncarpous, of 2 carpels, 2-locular; style 1; stigmas 2
Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits
Mericarps indehiscent, 1-seeded, suborbicular or reniform, often auricled at the base, the outer (rounded) face reticulate, rugose, spinescent, or smooth, wingless or sometimes broadly membranous-winged. Fruit separating into 2 mericarps
[FTEA]

Sources

  • Flora Zambesiaca

    • Flora Zambesiaca
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Somalia

    • Flora of Somalia
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Flora of Tropical East Africa

    • Flora of Tropical East Africa
    • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0

  • Herbarium Catalogue Specimens

    • 'The Herbarium Catalogue, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published on the Internet http://www.kew.org/herbcat [accessed on Day Month Year]'. Please enter the date on which you consulted the system.

  • Kew Backbone Distributions

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0

  • Kew Names and Taxonomic Backbone

    • The International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants 2025. Published on the Internet at http://www.ipni.org and https://powo.science.kew.org/
    • © Copyright 2023 International Plant Names Index and World Checklist of Vascular Plants. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0