The Plumbaginaceae are a family of flowering plants that includes a number of popular garden species, which are grown world wide for their attractive flowers. They are sometimes referred to as the leadwort family or the plumbago family.

Most species in this family are perennial plants growing as forbs, but a few grow as lianas or shrubs. The plants are hermaphrodite and are fertilised by insects. They are found in many different climatic regions, from arctic to tropical conditions, but are particularly associated with salt steppes, marshes, and sea coasts.

Under the Cronquist system, the Plumbaginaceae were placed in a separate order, the Plumbaginales, which included no other families. More modern classifications, such as that of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group, place them in the Caryophyllales.

Nearly 800 species are currently recognised in this family, organised into about 24 genera. Genera include:

• Acantholimon
• Aegialitis
• Armeria , the thrifts or seapinks
• Bamiana
• Buciniczea
• Cephalorhizum
• Ceratostigma , the leadwoods
• Chaetolimon
• Dictyolimon
• Dyerophytum
• Eremolimon
• Ghasnianthus
• Goniolimon
• Ikonnikovia
• Limoniastrum
• Limoniopsis
• Limonium, some members of which were formerly classified as Statice, the sealavenders or statices
• Meullerolimon
• Neogontscharovia
• Plumbagella
• Plumbago , the leadworts or plumbagos
• Popoviolimon
• Psylliostachys
• Vassilczenkoa

External link

• Plumbaginaceae in: Watson, L., and M. J. Dallwitz (1992 onwards). The Families of Flowering Plants: Descriptions, Illustrations, Identification, Information Retrieval. http://delta-intkey.com