Genus: 9 species; single genus in Macarthuriaceae.
Region: Australia.
Habitat: sand and laterite, on coastal sandplains, sandhills, roadsides.
BotanyHerbs or subshrubs; erect or spreading; rigid or wiry, rush-like; 15 to 75 cm tall.
Stems: green.
Leaves: reduced to to scales, on the stem; basal; short petioles.
Flowers: small; with stems; 5 perianth parts, petals; stamens 8, fused at the base; white to white-cream; ovary is 3-locular and superior; 3 ovules per locule; 3 styles; placentation is basal.
Fruit: capsule; dehisces in 3 valves.
Seeds: with arils.
Dispersion: by ants.
TaxonomyMacarthuria was placed with Limeum in the
Limeaceae in 2009. Endress and Bittrich had placed it in the family
Molluginaceae priority. In 2011, phylogenetic evidence showed that Macarthuria is sister to all core
Caryophyllales and needed to be placed in a family of its own, Macarthuriaceae.