[2] L. staudtii is a small African tree, ranging from Cameroon eastward to Ethiopia.

[4] Lepidobotrys staudtii was named and described by Adolf Engler in 1902 and placed by him in the family Linaceae.

In 1950, Jean Leonard became the first to put it in a family by itself, which he thought to be close to Linaceae.

[9] Adding to the confusion was the lack of any strong basis for placing these and related families into orders.

The name is in reference to the cone-like arrangement of its bracts, which extend under the flowers.