Coleae

Coleae is a term found in botanical nomenclature that may appear in discussions of plant classification as a potential name for a tribe within a subfamily. In botany, the suffix -eae is the standard ending used to designate a tribe, a rank below subfamily and above genus. The form coleae would typically be derived from a genus or root name that an author chose to base the tribe on.

There is no universally recognized, currently active taxon universally known and accepted today as "Coleae" in major reference works. The use of the name has appeared in historical or provisional treatments, and the exact circumscription—i.e., which genera are included and where the tribe sits in the larger classification—has varied across sources. With the advent of molecular phylogenetics, many traditional tribe-level groups have been revised, merged, split, or renamed, and some historic names have fallen out of use.

If you encounter the term in a scientific text, it is important to consult the cited source for the precise definition, included genera, and higher-level placement (such as the family and subfamily). The presence of the name does not, by itself, indicate a stable or current taxonomic unit.

See also: Botanical nomenclature, Tribe (botany), Subfamily, Taxonomic ranks in plants, Plant families and genera.

Notes: Because botanical classifications are periodically updated, a term like "Coleae" may reflect an older or alternate circumscription rather than a current, widely accepted taxon.