Bruniaceae is a family of shrubs native to the cape region of South Africa

South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...

. They are mostly restricted to the Cape Province

Cape Province

The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...

, but a small number of species occur in KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal

KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....

.

In the APG II taxonomy they are placed in the order Lamiales

Lamiales

Lamiales is an order in the asterid group of dicotyledonous flowering plants. It includes approximately 11,000 species divided into about 20 families...

, but a 2008 study suggested that they are sister to the Columelliaceae

Columelliaceae

Columelliaceae is a family of trees and shrubs native to the Andes of South America.In the APG II taxonomy they are placed in the order Lamiales, but a 2008 study suggested that they are sister to the Bruniaceae, and the Angiosperm Phylogeny Website proposes incorporating this finding by placing...

, and the Angiosperm Phylogeny Website

Angiosperm Phylogeny Website

Angiosperm Phylogeny Website is a well-known web site dedicated to research on Angiosperm phylogeny and taxonomy.The site is hosted by the Missouri Botanical Garden website and maintained by researcher Peter F. Stevens, who is a member of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group...

 proposes incorporating this finding by placing both families in order Bruniales

Bruniales

Bruniales is a valid botanic name at the rank of order. Until recently it was not in use, but a 2008 study suggested that Bruniaceae and Columelliaceae are sister clades...

.

Genera

There are twelve genera, totalling 75 species:

• Audouinia Brongn.
• Berzelia
  Berzelia
  Berzelia is a genus consisting of 12 species of upright, wiry stemmed, evergreen shrubs with a dense covering of small, fine, needle-like leaves. The flowers which appear in spring and summer, are minute but are packed in spherical clusters, of which there are several per head of bloom...
  
  Brongn.
• Brunia Lam.
• Linconia L.
• Lonchostoma Wikstr.
• Mniothamnea (Oliv.) Nied.
• Nebelia Neck. ex Sweet
• Pseudobaeckea Nied.
• Raspalia Brongn.
• Staavia Dahl
• Thamnea Sol. ex Brongn.
• Tittmannia Brongn.