Sumeaceae

Sumeaceae is a plant family name that has appeared in taxonomic treatments of flowering plants but is not recognized as a distinct, widely accepted lineage in contemporary classifications. In the literature it is described as a small family of tropical trees and shrubs, characterized by simple alternate leaves, small bisexual flowers arranged in panicles, and fruit that ranges from capsules to drupes. The family is said to comprise a handful of genera, including Suma and Sumella, with a total of roughly 30 to 70 species, depending on the taxonomic treatment.

Distribution and habitat are described as tropical and subtropical forests of Southeast Asia and the western Pacific, with some species extending into continental Asia and Oceania. Ecology notes point to bee and fly pollination and seed dispersal by birds and mammals.

Taxonomic history: Sumeaceae was proposed by botanists in the mid-20th century. Phylogenetic studies using molecular data have placed the included taxa in different positions across flowering plant groups, and some classifications treat Sumeaceae as a synonym of another family or as incertae sedis within Malpighiales or a related order. Because of this unsettled status, the number of genera and species is not fixed and varies by source.

Etymology: The name derives from the type genus Suma. Uses include limited timber resources and traditional medicines in some local communities, though many species are of conservation concern due to habitat loss.

Conservation: Several species are listed as threatened in regional assessments. Further molecular and morphological work is needed to determine the proper circumscription and placement of Sumeaceae within flowering plants.