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Recent molecular and morphological studies have shown that the genera Halosarcia, Pachycornia, Sclerostegia, Tecticornia and Tegicornia are closely related and form a monophyletic group. Support for the monophyly of the individual genera in the group is lacking, with the smaller genera nested in a paraphyletic Halosarcia. In light of this it is proposed that these genera be subsumed into a single genus for which the most appropriate available name is Tecticornia. A conspectus is provided of all species in the expanded Tecticornia, with new combinations given for 30 species and 13 subspecies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]