Limiaceae

Limiaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Lamiales. The circumscription of Limiaceae has varied; in some classifications it is treated as a distinct family, while in others it is included within Lamiaceae. The type genus is Limia. The family comprises a small number of genera and species, with published counts ranging from about four to eight genera and roughly 100 to 150 species, depending on the authority.

Members are generally herbaceous perennials and shrubs, often aromatic. Leaves are opposite or whorled, and stems are commonly square in cross-section. Flowers are small to medium-sized, typically actinomorphic to zygomorphic, with tubular to bilabiate corollas. Most species produce a two-lipped corolla and have a calyx with four or five lobes; the fruit is a schizocarp with four nutlets.

Distribution and habitat cover temperate and tropical regions of the Old and New Worlds. Habitats include woodland margins, scrublands, grasslands, and rocky outcrops. Ecology and uses section note that pollination is by bees and hummingbirds in many species, and that some members are cultivated as ornamentals or for essential oils.

Taxonomy and phylogeny summaries indicate that molecular studies have supported close affinity to Lamiaceae. Some authorities suggest treating Limiaceae as a distinct clade within Lamiales, while others retain it as a separate family. Morphological characters such as leaf arrangement and inflorescence architecture are cited in support of recognition as a distinct group.

Genera commonly cited within Limiaceae include Limia (the type genus), Limiandra, Verlimia, and Limivella. Conservational status varies by species, with several regarded as rare or threatened due to habitat loss and collection pressures.