Clauseneae

Clauseneae is a tribe of flowering plants in the family Rutaceae, within the order Sapindales. The circumscription of Clauseneae has varied among classifications, but modern treatments typically include Clausena as the largest and most widespread genus, along with a small number of related genera such as Glycosmis and Merrilliodendron. The composition of the tribe can differ in recent molecular-based schemes.

Most species in Clauseneae are evergreen shrubs or small to medium-sized trees native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and the Pacific, with a center of diversity in Southeast Asia. They commonly occur in forest edges, hillside habitats, and tropical woodlands, and some species have adapted to cultivated landscapes.

Leaves are generally simple or compound and often aromatic due to essential oils. Flowers are usually small and actinomorphic, often arranged in umbels or clusters, with five petals and five sepals. Fruits are variable within the tribe, but many members bear drupaceous or capsule fruits; several species produce edible fruits or have traditional medicinal uses. A notable cultivated member is Clausena lansium, the wampee, grown in southern China and parts of Southeast Asia for its sweet-tart fruit.

In systematic treatments, Clauseneae is regarded as a coherent lineage within Rutaceae, though the precise relationships among its members and with other tribes continue to be evaluated by molecular phylogenetics. Overall, Clauseneae represents a modestly diverse group within Rutaceae, contributing to tropical ecosystem function and, in some species, human use.