Gilbert, M.G. (1993) Limeum in Flora of Somalia 1: 107-108
Plants herbs or subshrubs, usually with sticky glandular hairs, sometimes glabrous. Leaves alternate or opposite, without stipules; blades linear to orbicular. Inflorescences terminal symes, often overtopped by later growth and consequently appearing lateral. Flowers greenish, small; sepals 5, herbaceous; stamens usually 5 outer stamens and 0 or 2 inner stamens; filaments widest towards the base; staminodes 0-5, arising from the base of outer stamens, sometimes petaloid, free; ovaries 2-celled, with 1 ovule per cell; styles 2, united at the base. Fruits separating into 2 mericarps; mericarps indehiscent, 1-seeded, more or less globose or kidney-shaped, smooth, rugose, or spiny, sometimes with a broad membranous wing.
The family Limeaceae was first recognized in 2005. It includes only one genus, Limeum. Before the family Limeaceae was recognised, Limeum had been included in different families by different taxonomists, always with a comment to the effect that it did not fit well. Recognizing Limeum as the only member of a new genus resolved the problem in a manner that is consistent with the goal of recognizing monophyletic families.
