Felkelaceae

Felkelaceae is a botanical name that has appeared in some historical classifications for a small group of flowering plants. In contemporary systems, it is not treated as a widely accepted or valid family.

Taxonomic history and status

The circumscription of Felkelaceae has varied across sources. In several older treatments, the taxa placed in Felkelaceae were described as belonging to a distinct family, but modern classifications often do not maintain this grouping. As a result, Felkelaceae is commonly regarded as obsolete in many current references, or as a synonym of other families rather than a standalone lineage.

Genera, distribution, and characteristics

Because there is no stable, universally accepted circumscription, there is no consensus list of genera or a clear, agreed-upon geographic distribution for Felkelaceae. Descriptions associated with the name are inconsistent, and the taxa historically linked to Felkelaceae have largely been reclassified into other families in later revisions.

Current perspective

In the context of modern, molecular-based classifications, the status of Felkelaceae is largely historical. The name is seldom used in current botanical works, which prefer to place related species within established, widely recognized families. The case illustrates how plant classification evolves with new data and methodologies.

See also

List of plant families; APG system references.