Species in the Dorotheantheae tribe are endemic to the south and southwest areas of South Africa, specifically the Cape Floristic Region and Succulent Karoo Region,[2] or "Greater Cape Flora",[3] an area that sees great diversity in its flora, though, remains distinct.

Following this, it was argued that "fruit morphology" was unreliable for discerning genera in the family Aizoaceae; the most common manner was to consider combinations of homoplasious characteristics.

[2] This method was considered by Klak and Bruyns to be "not necessarily justified", with it being the only differentiating factor between the Cleretum and Dorotheanthus clades.

[2] Hence, despite there being aspects allowing for the recognition of Dorotheanthus and Aethephyllum, though they "remain[ed] difficult to distinguish", the conclusions of the study were that while the tribe is adequately characterised, the factors differentiating each genus are indistinct or negligible and should be reduced to only Cleretum due to that species' loose circumscription.

[2] Prior to the study, the genera Cleretum and Dorotheanthus were often confused, as noted in the "Aizoaceae A-E" edition of Heidrun Hartmann's 2001 book "Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants".