Sulgemiceae

Sulgemiceae is a tribe of flowering plants with an unsettled circumscription in modern plant systematics. The group has been treated variably by different authorities, sometimes as a distinct tribe with unclear familial placement and other times as incertae sedis within a broader angiosperm framework.

In some classifications, Sulgemiceae is recognized to comprise two genera, Sulgemia and Miceopsis. Other authors accept only Sulgemia or place the group outside formal tribal status. This lack of consensus reflects ongoing debates about its limits and relationships within the flowering plants.

Geographically, species attributed to Sulgemiceae have been reported from tropical and subtropical regions across several continents. Habitats are diverse, including forest edges, woodlands, and shrublands, with ecological preferences that appear to vary by genus and species.

Morphological definitions proposed for the tribe are not universally agreed upon. Reported character sets range from simple to moderately complex floral and vegetative traits, and diagnostic features often overlap with those of related groups, contributing to the difficulty of stable delimitation.

Phylogenetically, molecular studies have yet to produce a clear and stable placement for Sulgemiceae. Some analyses suggest associations with other tribes within a putative family Sulgemicaceae, while others fail to resolve its relationships with strong support, underscoring the provisional nature of its status in many classifications.

Etymology: The name Sulgemiceae derives from the type genus Sulgemia, following standard botanical practice to form tribe names with the suffix -eae.