Succulent plant
Encyclopedia
Water
Water is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
-retaining plant
Plant
Plants are living organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. Precise definitions of the kingdom vary, but as the term is used here, plants include familiar organisms such as trees, flowers, herbs, bushes, grasses, vines, ferns, mosses, and green algae. The group is also called green plants or...
s adapted to arid
Arid
A region is said to be arid when it is characterized by a severe lack of available water, to the extent of hindering or even preventing the growth and development of plant and animal life...
climates or soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
conditions. Succulent plants store water in their leaves
Leaf
A leaf is an organ of a vascular plant, as defined in botanical terms, and in particular in plant morphology. Foliage is a mass noun that refers to leaves as a feature of plants....
, stems
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
, and also in root
Root
In vascular plants, the root is the organ of a plant that typically lies below the surface of the soil. This is not always the case, however, since a root can also be aerial or aerating . Furthermore, a stem normally occurring below ground is not exceptional either...
s. Geophytes that survive unfavourable periods by dying back to underground storage organ
Storage organ
A storage organ is a part of a plant specifically modified for storage of energy or water. Storage organs often grow underground, where they are better protected from attack by herbivores. Plants that have an underground storage organ are called geophytes in the Raunkiær plant life-form...
s such as tuberous roots, corm
Corm
A corm is a short, vertical, swollen underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ used by some plants to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat ....
s, bulb
Bulb
A bulb is a short stem with fleshy leaves or leaf bases. The leaves often function as food storage organs during dormancy.A bulb's leaf bases, known as scales, generally do not support leaves, but contain food reserves to enable the plant to survive adverse conditions. At the center of the bulb is...
s, and rhizome
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
s, may be regarded as succulents.
The storage of water often gives succulent plants a more swollen or fleshy appearance than other plants, a characteristic known as succulence. In addition to succulence, succulent plants variously have other water-saving features. These may include:
- Crassulacean acid metabolismCrassulacean acid metabolismCrassulacean acid metabolism, also known as CAM photosynthesis, is a carbon fixation pathway that evolved in some plants as an adaptation to arid conditions. The stomata in the leaves remain shut during the day to reduce evapotranspiration, but open at night to collect carbon dioxide...
(CAM) to minimize water loss - absent, reduced, or cylindrical-to-spherical leaves
- reduction in the number of stomaStomaIn botany, a stoma is a pore, found in the leaf and stem epidermis that is used forgas exchange. The pore is bordered by a pair of specialized parenchyma cells known as guard cells that are responsible for regulating the size of the opening...
ta - stems as the main site of photosynthesisPhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, especially sugars, using the energy from sunlight. Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and many species of bacteria, but not in archaea. Photosynthetic organisms are called photoautotrophs, since they can...
, rather than leaves - compact, reduced, cushion-like, columnar, or spherical growth form
- ribs enabling rapid increases in plant volume and decreasing surface area exposed to the sun
- waxy, hairy, or spiny outer surface to create a humid micro-habitat around the plant, which reduces air movement near the surface of the plant, and thereby reduces water loss and creates shade
- roots very near the surface of the soil, so they are able to take up moisture from very small showers or even from heavy dewDew[Image:Dew on a flower.jpg|right|220px|thumb|Some dew on an iris in Sequoia National Park]]Dew is water in the form of droplets that appears on thin, exposed objects in the morning or evening...
- ability to remain plump and full of water even with high internal temperatures (e.g. 52 °C (125.6 °F))
- very impervious outer cuticlePlant cuticlePlant cuticles are a protective waxy covering produced only by the epidermal cells of leaves, young shoots and all other aerial plant organs without periderm...
(skin) - mucilaginous substancesMucilageMucilage is a thick, gluey substance produced by most plants and some microorganisms. It is a polar glycoprotein and an exopolysaccharide.It occurs in various parts of nearly all classes of plant, usually in relatively small percentages, and is frequently associated with other substances, such as...
, which retain water abundantly
Many succulents come from the dry areas of the tropics
Tropics
The tropics is a region of the Earth surrounding the Equator. It is limited in latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately N and the Tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere at S; these latitudes correspond to the axial tilt of the Earth...
and subtropics
Subtropics
The subtropics are the geographical and climatical zone of the Earth immediately north and south of the tropical zone, which is bounded by the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, at latitudes 23.5°N and 23.5°S...
, such as steppe
Steppe
In physical geography, steppe is an ecoregion, in the montane grasslands and shrublands and temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biomes, characterized by grassland plains without trees apart from those near rivers and lakes...
s, semi-desert, and desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
. High temperatures and low precipitation
Precipitation (meteorology)
In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation In meteorology, precipitation (also known as one of the classes of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric water vapor that falls under gravity. The main forms of precipitation...
force plants to collect and store water to survive long dry periods. Succulents also occur as epiphyte
Epiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
s, "air plants", as such they have limited or no contact with the ground, and are dependent on their ability to store water. Succulents also occur as inhabitants of sea
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
coast
Coast
A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...
s and dry lake
Dry lake
Dry lakes are ephemeral lakebeds, or a remnant of an endorheic lake. Such flats consist of fine-grained sediments infused with alkali salts. Dry lakes are also referred to as alkali flats, sabkhas, playas or mud flats...
s, which are exposed to high levels of dissolved minerals that are deadly to many other plant species.
The best known succulents are cacti
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
(family
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
: Cactaceae
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
). Virtually all cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are cacti. There is a significant difference between succulents that evolved in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and those that evolved in the Americas
Americas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
, the New World plants called cacti all have spines. No succulent plants arising in the Old World have spines although, through parallel evolution
Parallel evolution
Parallel evolution is the development of a similar trait in related, but distinct, species descending from the same ancestor, but from different clades.-Parallel vs...
, there are similar species in the Old World that closely resemble species in the new world that do have spines. The functional nature of the shapes evolved independently in each hemisphere, even though the specific structures may differ. The spines of cacti arose from leaf structures. This process may be confused with convergent evolution
Convergent evolution
Convergent evolution describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages.The wing is a classic example of convergent evolution in action. Although their last common ancestor did not have wings, both birds and bats do, and are capable of powered flight. The wings are...
that occurs in species that are related more closely.
To differentiate between these two basic types that seem so similar, but that are unrelated succulent plants, use of the terms, cactus or cacti, only should be used to describe succulents with spines. Popular collection of these types of plants has led to many Old World plants becoming established in the wild in the New World, and vice versa. One genus, Opuntia
Opuntia
Opuntia, also known as nopales or paddle cactus , is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae.Currently, only prickly pears are included in this genus of about 200 species distributed throughout most of the Americas. Chollas are now separated into the genus Cylindropuntia, which some still consider...
, is thought to have floated from the New World to the Old on equatorial currents and colonized itself in Africa, being described very early in botanical descriptions. Salt tolerance may have facilitated this process if early explorers were not responsible for transporting the plants.
Families and genera
- AgavaceaeAgavaceaeAgavoideae is a subfamily of monocot flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, order Asparagales. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Agavaceae. The group includes many well-known desert and dry zone types such as the agave, yucca, and Joshua tree...
: AgaveAgaveAgave is a genus of monocots. The plants are perennial, but each rosette flowers once and then dies ; they are commonly known as the century plant....
, BeschorneriaBeschorneriaBeschorneria is a genus of succulent plants belonging to the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae, native to Mexico.Species include:*Beschorneria albiflora Matuda*Beschorneria bracteata Jacobi*Beschorneria calcicola A.García-Mendoza...
, ChlorophytumChlorophytumChlorophytum is a genus of about 200-220 species of evergreen perennial flowering plants in family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae, native to the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia....
, FurcraeaFurcraeaFurcraea is a genus of succulent plants belonging to the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae, native to tropical regions of Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and northern South America...
, HesperaloeHesperaloeHesperaloe is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. It contains perennial yucca-like plants with long, narrow leaves produced in a basal rosette and flowers borne on long panicles or racemes...
, HesperoyuccaHesperoyuccaHesperoyucca is a small genus of three species of flowering plants closely related to, and recently split from, Yucca, which is in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae.-Description:...
, YuccaYuccaYucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40-50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers. They are native to the hot and dry parts of North... - AizoaceaeAizoaceaeThe Family Aizoaceae or Ficoidaceae is a taxon of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1900 species. They are commonly known as stone plants or carpet weeds. Species that resemble stones or pebbles are sometimes called mesembs...
: AizoanthemumAizoanthemumAizoanthemum is a small genus of plant in the family Aizoaceae, native to Namibia and Angola. It has only 5 species. Before being given their own genus, these species were considered a subgenus of Aizoon....
, AizoonAizoonAizoon is a genus of flowering plants in the iceplant family, Aizoaceae.-Species:*Aizoon asbestinum*Aizoon burchellii*Aizoon camforosma*Aizoon canariense*Aizoon giessii*Aizoon glinoides...
, GaleniaGaleniaGalenia is a genus of low growing perennial herbs in the family Aizoaceae. The genus is endemic to southern Africa.Species include::*Galenia acutifolia Adamson*Galenia affinis Sond. *Galenia africana L....
, SesuviumSesuviumSesuvium is a genus of flowering plants in the ice plant family, Aizoaceae. The roughly eight species it contains are commonly known as sea-purslanes.-Selected species:* Sesuvium crithmoides Welw. – Tropical Sea-purslane...
, TetragoniaTetragoniaTetragonia is a genus of 50-60 species of flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to temperate and subtropical regions mostly of the Southern Hemisphere, in New Zealand, Australia, southern Africa and South America...
, TrianthemaTrianthemaTrianthema is a genus of flowering plants in the ice plant family, Aizoaceae. Members of the genus are annuals or perennials generally characterized by fleshy, opposite, unequal, smooth-margined leaves, a prostrate growth form, flowers with five perianth segments subtended by a pair of bracts, and...
, Zaleya- subfamily Mesembryanthemoideae (syn. Mesembryanthemaceae): Acrodon, Aethephyllum, AloinopsisAloinopsisAloinopsis is a relatively small genus of ice plants from South Africa, whose genus name stands for "similar to an Aloe".These plants have a rather large tuberous root system, and is occasionally cultivated for their looks. They also tend to grow more "heads" when they are raised...
, Amoebophyllum (non-current), AmphiboliaAmphiboliaAmphibolia is a genus of plant in family Aizoaceae.Species include:* Amphibolia obscura, H.E.K.Hartmann...
, Antegibbaeum, AntimimaAntimimaAntimima is a genus of plant in family Aizoaceae.Species include:* Antimima argentea, H.E.K.Hartmann* Antimima aurasensis, H.E.K.Hartmann* Antimima buchubergensis, H.E.K.Hartmann...
, Apatesia, ApteniaApteniaAptenia is a small genus of succulent plants in the family Aizoaceae that is endemic to South Africa. The name is derived from the Greek word απτην , meaning "wingless" or "unfledged." It refers to the wingless capsules....
, Arenifera, ArgyrodermaArgyrodermaArgyroderma is a genus consisting of over 50 species of succulents in the iceplant family from South Africa.These distinctive plants are among those known as "living stones", because their highly succulent, usually stemless, blue-green leaves occur at ground level and can resemble small stones...
, Aridaria, Aspazoma, AstridiaAstridiaAstridia is a genus of plant in family Aizoaceae. It is named after the wife Astrid of the german botanist and archaeologist Gustav Schwantes .Species include:* Astridia hallii L. Bolus...
, Bergeranthus, Berrisfordia (non-current), Bijlia, BraunsiaBraunsiaBraunsia is a genus of plant in the family Aizoaceae....
, Brianhuntlia, BrownanthusBrownanthusBrownanthus is a genus of plant in family Aizoaceae.Species include:* Brownanthus namibensis, Bullock* Brownanthus pubescens, Bullock...
, Calamophyllum, Carpanthia, CarpobrotusCarpobrotusCarpobrotus is a genus of ground-creeping plants, with succulent leaves and large daisy-like flowers. The name refers to the edible fruits. It comes from the Greek "karpos" and "brota" .There are about 25 species in this genus, having a disperse distribution worldwide...
, Carruanthus, Caryotophora, Caulipsilon, CephalophyllumCephalophyllumCephalophyllum is a genus of plant in family Aizoaceae.Species include:* Cephalophyllum compressum, L.Bolus* Cephalophyllum confusum, Dinter & Schwantes* Cephalophyllum frutescens-External links:* *...
, Cerochlamys, Chasmatophyllum, CheiridopsisCheiridopsisCheiridopsis is a genus that consists of 100 succulents, native to southern Africa. Most are clumping form, a few are shrubby. The leaves are opposite and triangular in section, rarely flattened, the surface more or less velvety, which makes them easy to distinguish from species of the allied genus...
, Circandra, Cleretum,ConicosiaConicosiaConicosia is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family native to southern Africa. They are known commonly as narrow-leafed ice plants. These are relatively short-lived perennials with underground stems and tentacle-shaped, dull-pointed triangular leaves...
, ConophytumConophytumConophytum is a genus of South African and Namibian succulent plants that belong to the Aizoaceae family. The name is derived from the Latin “conus” and Greek “phytum”...
, Corpuscularia, Cylindrophyllum, Dactylopsis, DelospermaDelospermaDelosperma is a genus of around 100 species of succulent plants in the family Aizoaceae. The family is common in southern and eastern Africa.Species include:*Delosperma acuminatum*Delosperma bosseranum*Delosperma cooperi...
, Dicrocaulon, Dinteranthus, Diplosoma, DisphymaDisphymaDisphyma is a monotypic genus of succulent shrubs. Commonly known as Round-leaved Pigface, it occurs in South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Its sole species, Disphyma crassifolium, is divided into two subspecies, D. crassifolium subsp. crassifolium and D. crassifolium subsp...
,Dorotheanthus, Dracophilus, DrosanthemumDrosanthemumDrosanthemum is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family native to southern Africa. They are known commonly as dewflowers or vygies...
, Eberlanzia, Ebracteola, Ectotropis (non-current), Enarganthe, Erepsia, Esterhuysenia, Eurystigma (non-current), FaucariaFaucariaFaucaria is a genus of around 33 species of succulent subtropical plants of the family Aizoaceae.The name comes from the Latin word "fauces" because of the appearance of leaves....
, FenestrariaFenestrariaFenestraria is a monotypic genus of succulent plants in the family Aizoaceae. The species is also called babies toes or window plant....
, FrithiaFrithiaFrithia is a genus of plant in family Aizoaceae. It contains the following species:* Frithia pulchra N.E.Br.* Frithia humilis Burgoyne....
, GibbaeumGibbaeumGibbaeum is a genus of about 21 species of succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae.The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin "gibbosus" They come from South Africa -Description:...
, GlottiphyllumGlottiphyllumGlottiphyllum is a genus of about 57 species of succulent subtropical plants of the family Aizoaceae.The name comes from the ancient Greek "γλωττίς" and "φύλλον" ....
, Halenbergia (non-current), Hallianthus, Hameria, Hartmanthus, Hereroa, Herrea (non-current), Herreanthus (now ConophytumConophytumConophytum is a genus of South African and Namibian succulent plants that belong to the Aizoaceae family. The name is derived from the Latin “conus” and Greek “phytum”...
), Hydrodea (non-current), Hymenogyne, Ihlenfeldtia, Imitaria (non-current), Jacobsenia, Jensenbotrya, JordaaniellaJordaaniellaJordaaniella is a genus of plant in family Aizoaceae. The plants of this genus are indigenous to southern Africa.Species include :* Jordaaniella anemoniflora , N.E.Br...
, JuttadinteriaJuttadinteriaJuttadinteria is a genus of plant in family Aizoaceae.Species include:* Juttadinteria deserticola, Schwantes* Juttadinteria kovisimontana, Schwantes* Juttadinteria simpsonii, Schwantes...
, Kensitia (non-current), KhadiaKhadiaKhadia is a genus of plant in family Aizoaceae. It contains the following species :* Khadia acutipetala* Khadia alticola* Khadia beswickii, N.E.Br.* Khadia borealis* Khadia carolinensis...
, LampranthusLampranthusLampranthus is a genus of plants in the family Aizoaceae. All are succulent plants.One of the species in this genus is L. roseus, the mini ice plant.-Reproduction:...
, Lapidaria, Leipoldtia, LithopsLithopsLithops is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family, Aizoaceae. Members of the genus are native to southern Africa. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek words λίθος , meaning "stone," and ὄψ , meaning "face," referring to the stone-like appearance of the plants...
, MachairophyllumMachairophyllumMachairophyllum is a genus of plants in the family Aizoaceae.-Selected species:Machairophyllum acuminatum L.BolusMachairophyllum albidum SchwantesMachairophyllum baxteri L.BolusMachairophyllum bijlii L.Bolus...
, MalephoraMalephoraMalephora is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family. There are 13 to 17 species in the genus, many of which are known commonly as mesembs. They are native to Africa....
, Marlothistela, Maughaniella (non-current), MesembryanthemumMesembryanthemumMesembryanthemum is a genus of plants native to southern Africa. Many species which were formerly placed herein have since been moved into other genera such as Carpobrotus Sceletium is sometimes included here....
, Mestoklama, Meyerophytum, Micropterum (non-current), Mimetophytum (non-current), Mitrophyllum, Monilaria, Mossia, Muiria, Namaquanthus, Namibia, Nanathus, Nelia, Neohenricia, Neorhine (non-current), Nycteranthus (non-current), Octopoma, Odontophorus, Oophytum, Ophthalmophyllum (non-current), Orthopterum, Oscularia, Ottosonderia, Pherelobus (non-current), Phiambolia, Phyllobolus, Platythyra (non-current), PleiospilosPleiospilosPleiospilos is a genus of South African succulent plants that belong to the Aizoaceae family. The name is derived from the Greek “pleios” and “spìlos”...
, PolymitaPolymitaPolymita, is a genus of large, air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Helminthoglyptidae.The shell of this species is large, brightly colored, and has numerous color varieties....
, Prenia, PsammophoraPsammophoraPsammophora is a genus of plant in family Aizoaceae. It contains the following species :* Psammophora nissenii, Dinter & Schwantes* Psammophora saxicola, H.E.K.Hartmann...
, Psicaulon, Rabiea, Rhinephyllum, Rhombophyllum, RuschiaRuschiaRuschia is a genus of plant in family Aizoaceae.Species include:* Ruschia namusmontana, Friedrich...
, Ruschianthemum (non-current), RuschianthusRuschianthusRuschianthus falcatus is a species of plant in the Aizoaceae family. It is endemic to Namibia. Its natural habitat is rocky areas. It is the only species in the monotypic genus Ruschianthus.-External links:...
, Ruschiella, Saphesia, Sarozona,Sceletium, Schlecteranthus, SchwantesiaSchwantesiaSchwantesia is a genus of plant in the family Aizoaceae. It is named in honor of the german botanist and archaeologist Gustav Schwantes .Species include:* Schwantesia constanceae, N.Zimm....
, Scopologena, Semnanthe (now Erepsia), Skiatophytum, Smicrostigma, Sphalmanthus (non-current), Stayneria, Stoeberia, Stomatium, Synaptophyllum, Tanquana, TitanopsisTitanopsisTitanopsis is a genus of about 10 species of succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae.The name "Titanopsis" comes from the ancient greek "titanos" et "opsis" They come from South Africa...
, TrichodiademaTrichodiademaTrichodiadema is a genus of succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae.The name "Trichodiadema" comes from the ancient greek "thrix" and "diadema" They come from Cape Province in South Africa.- Description :...
, Vanheerea, Vanzijlia, Viokia, Wooleya, Zeuktophyllum
- subfamily Mesembryanthemoideae (syn. Mesembryanthemaceae): Acrodon, Aethephyllum, Aloinopsis
- AmaranthaceaeAmaranthaceaeThe flowering plant family Amaranthaceae, the Amaranth family, contains about 176 genera and 2,400 species.- Description :Most of these species are herbs or subshrubs; very few are trees or climbers. Some species are succulent....
: Arthraerua - AmaryllidaceaeAmaryllidaceaeAmaryllidoideae is the subfamily of flowering plants that takes its name from the genus Amaryllis. It is part of the family Amaryllidaceae, in order Asparagales...
(geophytes): AmmocharisAmmocharisAmmocharis is a genus in the Amaryllidaceae family which includes 6 species distributed in Africa. The plant grows as a succulent, above-ground bulb, preferring seasonally wet, hot, sandy soils and full sun.-Species:...
, ApodolirionApodolirionApodolirion is a genus of herbaceous, perennial and bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family . It consists of 6 species distributed in South Africa...
, BoophoneBoophoneBoophone is a genus of herbaceous, perennial and bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family . It consists of two species distributed in Tropical and Southern Africa...
, BrunsvigiaBrunsvigiaBrunsvigia is a flowering plant genus in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. It contains about 20 species native to South Africa....
, CrinumCrinumCrinum is a genus of about 180 species of perennial plants that have large showy flowers on leafless stems, and develop from bulbs. They are found along the sides of streams and lakes in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide, including South Africa....
, Crossyne, Cryptostephanus, CyrtanthusCyrtanthusCyrtanthus is a genus of perennial, herbaceous and bulbous plants in the Amaryllis family . This highly ornamental genus encompasses about 60 species...
, Gethyllis, HabranthusHabranthusHabranthus is a genus of tender herbaceous flowering bulbs in the Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. The genus was first identified by pioneering bulb enthusiast William Herbert in 1824.-Description:...
, HaemanthusHaemanthusHaemanthus is a Southern African genus of Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae, with some 22 known species, endemic to South Africa, Namibia and the kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland...
, Hessea, NerineNerineNerine is a genus of plants belonging to the Amaryllidaceae family, subfamily Amaryllidoideae Native to South Africa, there are about 30 different species in the genus. Nerine have been widely cultivated and much hybridized and are now spread world wide....
, PancratiumPancratiumPancratium may be:* Pankration, a sport or martial art introduced in the Olympic games in 648 BC, and its modern version* Pancratium , a genus of flowering plants in the family Amaryllidaceae...
, Rauhia, ScadoxusScadoxusScadoxus is a genus of 9 species native to tropical Africa in the family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. The genus has close affinities with Haemanthus from which it has only recently been separated.Species in the genus are...
, StrumariaStrumariaStrumaria is a genus of plant in family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. It contains the following species :* Strumaria barbarae, Oberm.* Strumaria hardyana, D.& U. Müll.-Doblies...
, ZephyranthesZephyranthesZephyranthes is a genus of 71 species in the Amaryllis family . There are numerous hybrids and cultivars. Common names for species in this genus include fairy lily, rainflower, zephyr lily, magic lily, Atamasco lily, and rain lily.The name is derived from Ζέφυρος , the Greek god of the west...
, - AnacardiaceaeAnacardiaceaeAnacardiaceae are a family of flowering plants bearing fruits that are drupes and in some cases producing urushiol, an irritant. Anacardiaceae include numerous genera with several of economic importance. Notable plants in this family include cashew , mango, poison ivy, sumac, smoke tree, and marula...
: Operculicaria, PachycormusPachycormusPachycormus is an extinct genus of fish from the Jurassic.-Sources:* Fossils by David Ward... - ApiaceaeApiaceaeThe Apiaceae , commonly known as carrot or parsley family, is a group of mostly aromatic plants with hollow stems. The family is large, with more than 3,700 species spread across 434 genera, it is the sixteenth largest family of flowering plants...
: SteganotaeniaSteganotaeniaSteganotaenia is a genus of flowering plant in the Apiaceae family.It contains the following species:* Steganotaenia commiphoroides* Steganotaenia araliacea... - ApocynaceaeApocynaceaeThe Apocynaceae or dogbane family is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas.Many species are tall trees found in tropical rainforests, and most are from the tropics and subtropics, but some grow in tropical dry, xeric environments. There are also perennial herbs...
: AdeniumAdeniumAdenium is a genus of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae.-Cultivation and uses:Adenium obesum is grown as a houseplant in temperate regions. Numerous hybrids have been developed. Adeniums are appreciated for their colorful flowers, but also for their unusual, thick caudexes...
, MandevillaMandevillaMandevilla is a genus of plants belonging to the family Apocynaceae, the Periwinkle family. It consists of about 100 species, mostly tropical and subtropical flowering vines....
, PachypodiumPachypodiumPachypodium is a genus of succulent spine-bearing trees and shrubs, native to Africa. It belongs to the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. Pachypodium comes from a Latin form from Greek pachus and podion , hence meaning thick-footed.-Genus characteristics:All Pachypodium are succulent plants that...
, PlumeriaPlumeriaPlumeria is a genus of flowering plants of the family that includes Dogbane: the Apocynaceae. It contains 7-8 species of mainly deciduous shrubs and small trees...
- subfamily Asclepiadoideae (syn. AsclepiadaceaeAsclepiadaceaeAccording to APG II, the Asclepiadaceae is a former plant family now treated as a subfamily in the Apocynaceae...
): AbsolmsiaAbsolmsiaAbsolmsia is a genus of flowering plants of the family Apocynaceae of two species, native to Southwest of China and Borneo.-References:*Green T. . A broom: Absolmsia spartioides Kuntze, a Hoya near relative. Asklepios no.61. 34-36...
, AsclepiasAsclepiasAsclepias L. , the milkweeds, is a genus of herbaceous perennial, dicotyledonous plants that contains over 140 known species...
, AustrallumaAustrallumaAustralluma is a genus of plant in family Apocynaceae.Species include:* Australluma peschii, Plowes...
, Aspidoglossum, Aspidonepsis, BaynesiaBaynesiaBaynesia is a genus of plant in family Apocynaceae.Species include:* Baynesia lophophora, Bruyns...
, BrachystelmaBrachystelmaThe genus Brachystelma R. Br. is represented by ca. 100-120 species The genus Brachystelma R. Br. (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae - Ceropegieae) is represented by ca. 100-120 species The genus Brachystelma R. Br. (Apocynaceae: Asclepiadoideae - Ceropegieae) is represented by ca. 100-120 species...
, CarallumaCarallumaCaralluma is a genus of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae, consisting of about 120 species.Once classified in the family Asclepiadaceae, it is now in the subfamily Asclepiadoideae. The generic name is derived from the Arabic word qahr al-luhum, meaning "wound in the flesh" or...
, CeropegiaCeropegiaCeropegia is a genus of plants within the family Apocynaceae. It was named by Carl Linnaeus, who first described this genus in volume 1 of his Species plantarum, which appeared in 1753. Linnaeus thought that the flowers looked like a fountain of wax. From this the scientific name was derived:...
, Chlorocyathus, Cibirhiza, Cordylogyne, CynanchumCynanchumCynanchum is a genus of about 300 species including some swallowworts, belonging to the family Apocynaceae. The taxon name comes from Greek kynos and anchein , referring to the toxicity of these plants. Hence the common name for several species is dog-strangling vine...
, DischidiaDischidiaDischidia is a genus of plants in the Milkweed family, Asclepiadaceae. It comprises about 80 known species which all grow as epiphytes and are native to tropical areas of China, India and most areas of Indo-China. Dischidia are closely aligned with the sister genus Hoya...
, Dischidiopsis, DuvaliaDuvaliaStudied by Haw. in Syn. Pl. Succ., 44 .- Albers & Meve, Asclepiadaceae : this genus is valid. Found in South Africa & Tropical Africa. Well defined by disc-like corona and stipitate gynostegium. 17 species recognised. Etymology: for Henri Auguste Duval French physician and botanist. Closely...
, Duvaliandra, Echidnopsis, EdithcoleaEdithcoleaEdithcolea is a monotypic genus with a single species Edithcolea grandis . Once classified in the family Asclepiadaceae, it is now in the subfamily Asclepiadoideae of the dogbane family Apocynaceae....
, Eustegia, Fanninia, Fockea, Glossostelma, HoodiaHoodiaHoodia is a genus of 13 species in the flowering plant family Apocynaceae, under the subfamily Asclepiadoideae. They are stem succulents, described as "cactiform" because of their remarkable similarity to the unrelated cactus family...
, HoyaHoyaHoya is a genus of 200-300 species of tropical plants in the family Apocynaceae , fomerly considered to be in the Asclepiadaceae...
, HuerniaHuerniaThe genus Huernia The genus Huernia The genus Huernia (family Asclepiadaceae consists of some (30-)60 species of stem succulents from Eastern and Southern Africa. The flowers are five-lobed, usually somewhat more funnel- or bell-shaped than in the closely related genus Stapelia, and often striped...
, Huerniopsis, Ischnolepis, LarryleachiaLarryleachiaLarryleachia is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae.Species include:* Larryleachia cactiformis, Plowes* Larryleachia marlothi, Plowes* Larryleachia perlata, Plowes...
, LavraniaLavraniaLavrania is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae.Species include:* Lavrania haagnerae, Plowes...
, MarsdeniaMarsdeniaMarsdenia is a genus of plant in family Apocynaceae. It is named in honor of the plant collector and Secretary of the Admiralty, William Marsden.Species include:* Marsdenia australis* Marsdenia brachyloba* Marsdenia cavaleriei...
, MateleaMateleaMatelea is a genus of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. It contains about 200 species, which are commonly known as milkvines.-Selected species:-Formerly placed here:...
, Miraglossum, Notechidnopsis, Odontostelma, Ophionella, Orbea, Orbeanthus, Pachycarpus, ParapodiumParapodiumParapodia , singular parapodium, are paired, un-jointed lateral outgrowths from the bodies of two different invertebrate groups, which are primarily marine in habitat...
, Pectinaria, Periglossum, Petopentia, Piaranthus, Pseudolithos, QuaquaQuaquaThe genus Quaqua falls within the tribe of plants known collectively as stapeliads. All stapeliads, including Quaqua, are old world stem-succulents....
, Raphionacme (geophyte), Rhytidocaulon, Riocreuxia, Sarcorrhiza, SarcostemmaSarcostemmaSarcostemma is a genus of at least 35 species of flowering plants in the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words σαρκὸς , meaning "flesh," and στέμμα , meaning "garland". Members of the genus are known generally as climbing milkweeds or caustic bushes...
, Schizoglossum, Schlechterella, StapeliaStapeliaThe genus Stapelia consists of around 40 species of low growing, spineless, stem succulent plants, predominantly from South Africa. The flowers of certain species, most notably Stapelia gigantea, can reach 41 cm in diameter when fully open...
, Stapelianthus, Stapeliopsis, Stathmostelma, Stenostelma, Stomatostemma, Tavaresia, Trachycalymma, TridenteaTridenteaTridentea is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae.Species include:* Tridentea pachyrrhiza, L.C.Leach...
, Tromotriche, TylophoraTylophoraTylophora is a genus of climbing plant or vine. It consists of about 60 species from tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, and Australia, most of which are perennial lianas. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek tylos/τυλος "knot", and phoros/φορος "bearing". The genus was originally erected...
, White-sloanea, Woodia, Xysmalobium
- subfamily Asclepiadoideae (syn. Asclepiadaceae
- AraceaeAraceaeAraceae are a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants in which flowers are borne on a type of inflorescence called a spadix. The spadix is usually accompanied by, and sometimes partially enclosed in, a spathe or leaf-like bract. Also known as the Arum family, members are often colloquially...
: ZamioculcasZamioculcasZamioculcas is a genus of flowering plant in the family Araceae, containing the single species Zamioculcas zamiifolia. It is a tropical perennial plant native to eastern Africa, from Kenya south to northeastern South Africa... - AraliaceaeAraliaceaeAraliaceae is a family of flowering plants, also known as the Aralia family or Ivy family. The family includes 254 species of trees, shrubs, lianas and perennial herbaceous plants into 2 subfamilies...
: CussoniaCussoniaCussonia is a genus of plants of family Araliaceae, represented by 20 species. It originated in Africa and has its center of distribution in South Africa and Madagascar.-References:*... - AsparagaceaeAsparagaceaeAsparagaceae is the botanical name of a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots.In earlier classification systems, the species involved were often treated as belonging to the family Liliaceae...
: Myrsiphyllum (now AsparagusAsparagusAsparagus officinalis is a spring vegetable, a flowering perennialplant species in the genus Asparagus. It was once classified in the lily family, like its Allium cousins, onions and garlic, but the Liliaceae have been split and the onion-like plants are now in the family Amaryllidaceae and...
) - AsphodelaceaeAsphodelaceaeAsphodeloideae is a subfamily of the monocot family Xanthorrhoeaceae in the order Asparagales. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Asphodelaceae. The subfamily name is derived from the generic name of the type genus, Asphodelus...
: AloeAloeAloe , also Aloë, is a genus containing about 500 species of flowering succulent plants. The most common and well known of these is Aloe vera, or "true aloe"....
(succulents and succulent geophytes), Astroloba, x Astroworthia, BulbineBulbineBulbine is a genus of plants in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae, named for the bulb-shaped tuber shown by many of the species...
(succulent geophytes, succulents, and geophytes), BulbinellaBulbinellaBulbinella is a genus of plant in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae. Most species are endemic to South Africa, confined to the winter rainfall area with a few in New Zealand where they are most common in the central Otago region which enjoys a similar climate to the Cape Region...
(geophyte), Chortolirion (succulent geophytes), GasteriaGasteriaGasteria is a genus of succulent plants native to South Africa. Closely related genera include Aloe and Haworthia. The genus is named for its stomach-shaped flowers and is part of the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae...
, HaworthiaHaworthiaHaworthia is a genus of flowering plants within the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae.. They are small solitary or clump-forming and endemic to South Africa. Some species have firm, tough leaves, usually dark green in color, whereas other are soft and semi-translucent. Their...
, PoellnitziaPoellnitziaPoellnitzia rubriflora also known as Haworthia rubriflora var. jacobseniana, Poellnitzia rubriflora var. jacobseniana, Apicra jacobseniana, Haworthia rubriflora, Astroloba rubriflora, Apicra rubriflora, Aloe rubriflora from the Asphodelaceae family...
, TrachyandraTrachyandraTrachyandra is a genus of plant in the family Xanthorrhoeaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae.Species include:* Trachyandra erythrorrhiza, Oberm.* Trachyandra peculiaris, Oberm....
(succulent geophytes and succulents), - AsteraceaeAsteraceaeThe Asteraceae or Compositae , is an exceedingly large and widespread family of vascular plants. The group has more than 22,750 currently accepted species, spread across 1620 genera and 12 subfamilies...
: ArctothecaArctothecaArctotheca is a small genus of flowering plants in the aster family. They are annuals or perennials native to southern Africa. At least two species are widely naturalized elsewhere, including Australia.Species include:...
, BaeriopsisBaeriopsisBaeriopsis is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family....
, CadiscusCadiscusCadiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family, Asteraceae....
, ChrysanthemoidesChrysanthemoidesChrysanthemoides is one of eight genera of the Calenduleae, with a center of diversity in South Africa. The genera contains only two species, but is known for the invasive "Bitou Bush" Chrysanthemoides monilifera. Studies of this genus have determined that there is a large amount of genetic...
, CoulterellaCoulterellaCoulterella capitata is a species of flowering plants in the daisy family. It is the only species of genus Coulterella and of subtribe Coulterellinae....
, CrassocephalumCrassocephalumCrassocephalum is a genus the common names of whose members include ragleaf, thickhead, and bologi. Several species are raised as leaf vegetables and used for medicine, especially in West Africa.-Species:Species include:...
, DideltaDideltaDidelta is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family....
, EmiliaEmilia (genus)Emilia is a herbaceous plant genus of about 50–100 species in the family Asteraceae, known as tasselflower or pualele. The members of the genus are distributed mainly in the tropics and sub-tropics.-Species List:...
, EremothamnusEremothamnusEremothamnus marlothianus is a species of shrub in the family Asteraceae, the only species in the genus Eremothamnus. It is native to the coastal desert of Namibia. It is a small shrub with spiny leaves.-Taxonomy and systematics:...
, GymnodiscusGymnodiscusGymnodiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family, Asteraceae....
, GynuraGynuraGynura is an Asian genus of the botanical family Asteraceae. , subfamily Asteroideae, tribe Senecioneae.The most known species is Gynura aurantiaca, so called because of the color of its orange inflorescences. This plant is also commonly known as "Purple Passion" because of the velvety purple leaves...
, Hillardiella (geophyte), LopholaenaLopholaenaLopholaena is a genus of plants in the family Asteraceae. About 20 species occur in Africa.-Selected species:* Lopholaena brevipes Phill. & C.A.Sm.* Lopholaena cneorifolia S. Moore...
, MonoculusMonoculusMonoculus is a genus of succulent plants in the family Asteraceae, split from the genus Osteospermum by Bertil Nordenstam in 2006. The two recognised species occur in the Western Cape of South Africa, with one species extending into Namibia....
, NidorellaNidorellaNidorella is a genus of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family. It contains around 15 species, all of which are found in East Africa and Southern Africa.Species include:*Nidorella microcephala*Nidorella nordenstamii*Nidorella resedifolia...
, OsteospermumOsteospermumOsteospermum is a genus belonging to the Calenduleae, one of the smaller tribes of the sunflower family .Osteospermum used to belong to the genus Dimorphotheca, but only the annual species remain in that genus; the perennials belong to Osteospermum. The genus Osteospermum is also closely related...
, OthonnaOthonnaOthonna is a genus of evergreen or deciduous geophytes, dwarf succulents or shrubs belonging to the sunflower family Asteraceae. The genus includes more than 100 species concentrated in the Western Cape of South Africa and southern Namibia. A few species occur in summer rainfall parts of southern...
(succulents and succulent geophytes), PhaneroglossaPhaneroglossaPhaneroglossa is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family, Asteraceae....
, PoecilolepisPoecilolepisPoecilolepis is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family....
, PolyachyrusPolyachyrusPolyachyrus is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family....
, PteroniaPteroniaPteronia is a genus of flowering plant in the Asteraceae family.It contains the following species:*Pteronia acuminata*Pteronia acuta*Pteronia adenocarpa*Pteronia ambrariifolia*Pteronia anisata*Pteronia aspalatha...
, SenecioSenecioSenecio is a genus of the daisy family that includes ragworts and groundsels. The flower heads are normally rayed, completely yellow, and the heads are borne in branched clusters...
, SolanecioSolanecioSolanecio is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family, Asteraceae....
,TripterisTripterisTripteris Less. is one of eight genera of the Calenduleae, with its center of diversity in South Africa. This genus was once classified as a subgenus under Osteospermum, but was separated in 1999.- Species :There are 22 species of Tripteris... - BalsaminaceaeBalsaminaceaeBalsaminaceae are a family of dicotyledonous plants, comprising two genera and 850+ species, all but one of which belong to the genus Impatiens...
: ImpatiensImpatiensImpatiens is a genus of about 850–1,000 species of flowering plants, widely distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere and tropics. Together with the puzzling Hydrocera triflora, this genus makes up the family Balsaminaceae... - BasellaceaeBasellaceaeBasellaceae is a family of flowering plants, in the order Caryophyllales in the clade core eudicots, according to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group...
: AnrederaAnrederaAnredera is a genus of five to ten species of plants native to the neotropics, most of them evergreen vines of dry scrubland and thickets.Species include:* Anredera baselloides Baill.* Anredera cordifolia Steenis...
, BasellaBasellaThe genus Basella, in the plant family Basellaceae, comprises five species. Three species are endemic to Madagascar, and one to eastern Africa.-Species:*Basella alba*Basella excavata Scott-Elliot*Basella leandriana H.Perrier... - BegoniaceaeBegoniaceaeBegoniaceae is a family of flowering plants with about 1400 species occurring in the subtropics and tropics of both the New World and Old World. All but one of the species are in the genus Begonia. The only other genus in the family, Hillebrandia, is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and has a single...
: BegoniaBegoniaBegonia is a genus in the flowering plant family Begoniaceae and is a perennial. The only other members of the family Begoniaceae are Hillebrandia, a genus with a single species in the Hawaiian Islands, and the genus Symbegonia which more recently was included in Begonia... - BoraginaceaeBoraginaceaeBoraginaceae, the Borage or Forget-me-not family, include a variety of shrubs, trees, and herbs, totaling about 2,000 species in 146 genera found worldwide.A number of familiar plants belong to this family....
: HeliotropiumHeliotropiumHeliotropium is a genus of flowering plants in the borage family, Boraginaceae. There are 250 to 300 species in this genus, which are commonly known as heliotropes .... - BrassicaceaeBrassicaceaeBrassicaceae, a medium sized and economically important family of flowering plants , are informally known as the mustards, mustard flowers, the crucifers or the cabbage family....
: HeliophilaHeliophilaClub-pointed Heliophila is the only member of the genus Heliophila within the flowering plant in the Brassicaceae family. In addition, some species of this genus are used like ornamental plants....
, LepidiumLepidiumLepidium is a genus of plants in the mustard family Brassicaceae. It includes about 175 species found worldwide, including cress and pepperweed; additional common names include peppercress, peppergrass, and pepperwort... - BromeliaceaeBromeliaceaeBromeliaceae is a family of monocot flowering plants of around 3,170 species native mainly to the tropical Americas, with a few species found in the American subtropics and one in tropical west Africa, Pitcairnia feliciana...
: Abromeitiella - BurseraceaeBurseraceaeBurseraceae is a moderate-sized family of 17-18 genera and about 540 species of flowering plants. The actual numbers differ according to the time period in which a given source is written describing this family. The Burseraceae is also known as the Torchwood family, the frankincense and myrrh...
: BoswelliaBoswelliaBoswellia is a genus of trees known for their fragrant resin which has many pharmacological uses particularly as anti-inflammatories. The Biblical incense frankincense was probably an extract from the resin of the tree, Boswellia sacra....
, BurseraBurseraBursera, named after the Danish botanist Joachim Burser is a genus with about 100 described species of flowering shrubs and trees varying in size upwards to 25 m. high...
, CommiphoraCommiphoraCommiphora is a genus of flowering plants in the family Burseraceae. It includes about 185 species of trees and shrubs, often armed or thorny, native to Africa, Arabia, and the Indian subcontinent.-Uses:... - CactaceaeCactusA cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
: AcanthocalyciumAcanthocalyciumAcanthocalycium is a genus of cactus consisting of three species from Argentina. The taxon name comes from Greek akantha and kalyx , which refers to the spines on the floral tubes....
, AcanthocereusAcanthocereusAcanthocereus is a genus of cacti. Its species take the form of shrubs with arching or climbing stems up to several meters in height. The generic name is derived from the Greek word άκανθα , meaning spine, and the Latin word cereus, meaning candle.The six species occur in the tropical Americas...
, AriocarpusAriocarpusAriocarpus is a genus of 8 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the Cactaceae family.The name comes from the ancient Greek "aria" and "carpos" because of the resemblance of the fruit of the two genus in acorn form...
, ArmatocereusArmatocereusArmatocereus is a genus of mostly tree-like cacti from South America . These species have a conspicuous constriction at the end of the annual growth. The flowers are mostly white, with more or less spiny ovary. The fruits are mostly spiny....
, ArrojadoaArrojadoaArrojadoa is a genus of cacti, comprising 6 species and several varieties. It is named after the Brazilian Miguel Arrojado Lisboa. The genus occurs only in northern Brazil and is found at rocky places, under shrubs, which support their frail stalk...
, ArthrocereusArthrocereusArthrocereus is a genus of cactus, originating from southern Minas Gerais, Brazil....
, AstrophytumAstrophytumAstrophytum is a genus of six species of cacti. These species are sometimes referred to as living rocks, though the term is also used for other genera, particularly Lithops . The generic name is derived from the Greek words άστρον , meaning "star," and φυτόν , meaning "plant."-Species:* Astrophytum...
, AustrocactusAustrocactusAustrocactus is a genus of cacti with five species endemic of southern South America, in Argentina and Chile.They have solitary o branched bodies, the ribs may have tubercules and they are not very spiny. The tallest species in this genus is 24 inches. Flowers are pink, red or yellow with a...
, AztekiumAztekiumThe genus Aztekium contains only two species of small globular cactus. Discovered in 1929 by F. Ritter, in Rayones, Nuevo León, Mexico, this genus was thought to be monotypic until a second species was discovered by George S...
, Bergerocactus, BlossfeldiaBlossfeldiaBlossfeldia is a genus of cacti, comprising the smallest cactus species. The genus is named after Harry Blossfeld. Some authorities only recognize one species in this genus ....
, Brachycereus, BrowningiaBrowningiaBrowningia is a genus of cacti, comprising 11 known species. It is named for W E Browning, director of the Instituto Inglés, Santiago,Chile.-Synonymy:Synonyms of this genus are:*Azureocereus Akers & H.Johnson...
, BrasilicereusBrasilicereusBrasilicereus is a genus of cacti known only from Brazil and comprising 2 species....
, CalymmanthiumCalymmanthiumCalymmanthium is a genus of primitive tree-like cacti from northern Peru. It is the only genus belonging to the tribe Calymmantheae.Diploperianthium F.Ritter has been brought into synonymy with this genus....
, Carnegiea, CephalocereusCephalocereusCephalocereus is a genus of slow-growing, columnar-shaped, blue-green cacti. The genus is native to Mexico. For more information see Old-Man Cactus.-Synonymy:*Haseltonia Backeb.*Neodawsonia Backeb.*Pilocereus Lem.- Species :...
, Cephalocleistocactus, CereusCereusCereus is a genus of cactus. The term cereus is also used to describe cacti with very elongated bodies, including columnar growth cacti and epiphytic cacti...
, CintiaCintiaCintia knizei is a small alpine cactus native to the high Andes of Bolivia. The plant was discovered by Karel Kníže in 1969 at an elevation of 4,000 m near Otavi, in Potosí Department, Bolivia. However, it was not formally described until 1996 by Jan Říha...
, CipocereusCipocereusCipocereus is a genus of cacti from Brazil. These species were previously included in the genera Pilosocereus and Cereus.-Synonymy:The genus Floribunda F.Ritter has been brought into synonymy with this genus....
, CleistocactusCleistocactusCleistocactus is a genus of columnar cacti from Peru, Uruguay, Bolivia and Argentina. The name comes from the Greek kleistos meaning closed because the flowers hardly open....
, ColeocephalocereusColeocephalocereusColeocephalocereus is a genus of erect and semi-erect columnar cacti from Brazil. These species develop a cephalium with wool and bristles.-Synonymy:The genus Buiningia Buxb. has been brought into synonymy with this genus....
, CopiapoaCopiapoaCopiapoa is a genus of cacti from the dry coastal deserts of northern Chile. It comprises about 26 species. These species vary in form from spherical to slightly columnar and in color from a brownish to blue-green body.-Taxonomy:...
, CorryocactusCorryocactusCorryocactus is a genus of cactus. The genus was formerly placed in the tribe Notocacteae.-Synonymy:The following genera have been brought into synonymy with this genus:*Corryocereus Fric & Kreuz....
, CoryphanthaCoryphanthaCoryphantha or Beehive cactus is a genus of small to middle-sized, globous to short-columnar cacti. The genus is found from Mexico to southern New Mexico and Texas in the United States...
, Dendrocereus, DenmozaDenmozaDenmoza is a genus of cactus found in Argentina, comprising only 2 species. The name of the genus is an anagram of the western province of Mendoza. These species grow slowly and stay globulous during a long period before becoming shortly column-shaped, 0.5 to 1.5 cm high...
, DiscocactusDiscocactusDiscocactus is a genus of tropical cactus. The name comes from the ancient Greek "diskos" because of its shape. Discocactus plants are endemic to southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, and northern Paraguay. These species are in the risk of extinction in the wild.The plants have a slightly flattened...
, DisocactusDisocactusDisocactus is genus of epiphytic cacti from Mexico to South America. It should not be confused with Discocactus, which is another genus.-Synonymy:*Aporocactus Lem.*Aporocereus Fric & Kreuz....
, EchinocactusEchinocactusEchinocactus is a genus of cacti in the subfamily Cactoideae. The generic name derives from the Ancient Greek εχινος , meaning "spiny," and cactus. It and Ferocactus are the two genera of barrel cactus. Members of the genus usually have heavy spination and relatively large flowers...
, EchinocereusEchinocereusEchinocereus is a genus of ribbed, usually small to medium-sized cylindrical cacti, comprising about 70 species from the southern United States and Mexico in very sunny rocky places...
, EchinopsisEchinopsisEchinopsis is a large genus of cacti native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cacti, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus. One small species, E. chamaecereus, is known as the peanut cactus. The 128 species range from large and treelike types to small globose cacti...
, EpiphyllumEpiphyllumEpiphyllum is a genus of 19 species of epiphytic plants in the cactus family , native to Central America. Common names for these species include orchid cacti and leaf cacti, though the latter also refers to the genus Pereskia....
, Epithelantha, EriosyceEriosyceEriosyce is a genus of cacti native to Chile.-Synonymy:The following genera have been brought into synonymy with Eriosyce:*Ceratistes Labour. *Chileniopsis Backeb.*Chileocactus Fric...
, EscobariaEscobariaEscobaria or foxtail cactus is a genus of low-growing cacti that range from the southernmost parts of central and western Canada through northern Mexico, with one species in Cuba...
, Escontria, EspostoaEspostoaEspostoa is a genus of columnar cacti, comprising 16 species known from the Andes of southern Ecuador and Peru. It usually lives at an altitude of between 800m and 2500m. Its fruit is edible, sweet, and juicy. The genus is named after Nicolas E. Esposto, a renowned botanist from Lima.These...
, Espostoopsis, EulychniaEulychniaEulychnia is a genus of candelabriform or arborescent cacti, comprising between 6 and 9 species depending on the authority. These desert cacti can survive under very hot conditions—temperatures can reach up to 50 degrees Celsius...
, FacheiroaFacheiroaFacheiroa is a genus of cacti, comprising 8 species in 2 subgenera . The genus is endemic to Brazil.The genus Zehntnerella Britton & Rose has been included in this genus and become a subgenus....
, FerocactusFerocactusFerocactus is a genus of large barrel-shaped cacti, mostly with large spines and small flowers. There are about 30 species included in the genus. They are found in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The young specimens are columnar but as they grow older ribs form and they take...
, FraileaFraileaFrailea is a genus of globular to short cylindrical cacti native to Brazil. These species are cleistogamous. They were first classified in the genus Echinocactus....
, GeohintoniaGeohintoniaGeohintonia mexicana is a species of cacti, of the genus Geohintonia. This genus is named after its discoverer George S. Hinton....
, GymnocalyciumGymnocalyciumGymnocalycium, commonly called chin cactus, is a genus of about 70 South American species of cacti. The genus name Gymnocalycium refers to the flower buds bearing no hair or spines....
, HaageocereusHaageocereusHaageocereus is a genus of cacti endemic to the lower elevations of the extremely dry desert along the coast of Peru and northern Chile.-Synonymy:The following genera have been brought into synonymy with Haagerocereus:...
, Harrisia, HatioraHatioraHatiora Britton & Rose is a small genus of epiphytic cacti which belongs to the tribe Rhipsalideae within the subfamily Cactoideae of the Cactaceae...
, HylocereusHylocereusHylocereus is a genus of cacti, often referred to as nightblooming cactus . Several species have large edible fruits, which are known as pitaya or dragonfruits.-Taxonomy:...
, JasminocereusJasminocereusJasminocereus is a genus of cacti. The genus originates from the Galapagos Islands. Owned by Ecuador, these cacti are extremely rare in cultivation because of the very strict rules for removing plants or seeds from the islands. This cactus is the only cactus that has a species that can be light...
, Lasiocereus, Leocereus, LepismiumLepismiumLepismium is a genus of mostly epiphytic cacti, with a dozen species. They are found in tropical South America.-Synonymy:The following genera have been brought into synonymy with this genus:*Acanthorhipsalis Britton & Rose...
, LeptocereusLeptocereusLeptocereus is a genus of cacti.The genus Neoabbottia Britton & Rose has been brought into synonymy with this genus....
, LeuchtenbergiaLeuchtenbergiaLeuchtenbergia principis , the sole species of the genus Leuchtenbergia, is a species of cactus. It is native to north-central Mexico...
, LophophoraLophophoraLophophora is a genus of spineless, button-like cacti native to the southwestern United States through Northeast Mexico and South to Querétaro in central Mexico....
, MaihueniaMaihueniaMaihuenia is a genus of cactus and the sole genus of the subfamily Maihuenioideae, which is the smallest subfamily of the Cactaceae. The genus comprises 2 cushion-forming, mucilaginous species. They are found at high elevation habitats of Andean Argentina and Chile....
, Malacocarpus, MammillariaMammillariaThe genus Mammillaria is one of the largest in the cactus family , with currently 171 known species and varieties recognized. Most of the mammillarias are native to Mexico, but some come from the southwest USA, the Caribbean, Colombia, Venezuela, Guatemala and Honduras.The first was described by...
, Mammilloydia, MatucanaMatucanaMatucana is a genus of cacti , containing approximately 20 species of mostly globular plants. The genus is only known from Peru, mostly along the Marañón River....
, MelocactusMelocactusMelocactus is a genus of cactus with about 40 species. They are native to the Caribbean, northern South America, with some species along the Andes down to southern Peru, and a concentration of species in northeastern Brazil....
, MicranthocereusMicranthocereusMicranthocereus is genus of cactus. It originates from Brazil and includes 10 species.The two genera Austrocephalocereus Backeb. and Siccobaccatus P.J.Braun & Esteves have been brought into synonymy with this genus....
, MilaMilaMila , is a female name of Slavic Origin. It is a diminutive of Slavic names beginning or ending with Mila which derived from the element Мил Mil meaning "gracious, dear".- Notable people with this name :First...
, Monvillea, MyrtillocactusMyrtillocactusMyrtillocactus is a genus of cacti. The genus is found from Mexico to Guatemala. The genus is best known with Myrtillocactus geometrizans.The genus Myrtillocereus Fric & Kreuz. Myrtillocactus (from Latin, "blueberry cactus") is a genus of cacti. The genus is found from Mexico to Guatemala. The...
, NeobuxbaumiaNeobuxbaumiaNeobuxbaumia is a genus of cacti.-Synonymy:The genera Pseudomitrocereus Bravo & Buxb. and Rooksbya Backeb. have been brought into synonymy with this genus....
, NeolloydiaNeolloydiaNeolloydia is a genus of cacti. The genus is uniquely found in the dry scrub areas of southern Texas and the Chihuahua Desert of Northeast Mexico.-Taxonomy:...
, NeoraimondiaNeoraimondiaNeoraimondia is a genus of medium to large cacti from Peru. The genus is named after the Italian-born Peruvian explorer, naturalist, and scientist, Antonio Raimondi....
, NeowerdermanniaNeowerdermanniaNeowerdermannia is a genus of South American cacti. The genus comprises only 2 species....
, Obregonia, OpuntiaOpuntiaOpuntia, also known as nopales or paddle cactus , is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae.Currently, only prickly pears are included in this genus of about 200 species distributed throughout most of the Americas. Chollas are now separated into the genus Cylindropuntia, which some still consider...
, OreocereusOreocereusOreocereus is a genus of cacti , known only from high altitudes of the Andes. Its name was formed from Greek and means "mountain cereus".-Synonymy:The following genera have been included in this genus:*Arequipa Britton & Rose...
, OroyaOroyaOroya is a genus of cacti , originating from Peru....
, Ortegocactus, PachycereusPachycereusPachycereus is a genus of 9–12 species of large cacti native to Mexico and just into southern Arizona, USA. They form large shrubs or small trees up to 5–15 m or more tall, with stout stems up to 1 m diameter....
, ParodiaParodiaParodia is a genus of cacti. This genus has about 50 species, ranging from small globose plants to 1-m tall columnar cacti.It is named after the Argentine botanist Lorenzo Raimundo Parodi .-Synonymy:...
, PediocactusPediocactusPediocactus is a genus of cacti. The genus comprises between 6 and 11 species, depending upon the authority...
, PelecyphoraPelecyphoraPelecyphora is a genus of cacti, comprising 2 species. They originate from Mexico.Pelecyphora is known for its medicinal properties and may have been utilized as a psychoactive in the same way as Lophophora williamsii. It is known as "Peyotillo"....
, PeniocereusPeniocereusPeniocereus is a genus of vining cacti, comprising about 18 species, found from the southwestern United States and Mexico. They have a large underground tuber, thin and inconspicuous stems.-Synonymy:...
, PereskiaPereskiaPereskia is a genus of about 25 tropical species and varieties of cacti that do not look much like other types of cacti, having substantial leaves and thin stems. They originate from the region between Brazil and Mexico. The genus is named after Nicolas-Claude Fabri de Peiresc, a 16th century...
, PereskiopsisPereskiopsisPereskiopsis is a genus of cacti .Peireskiopsis Vaupel is an orthographic variant.-Description:...
, PilosocereusPilosocereusPilosocereus is a genus of cactus.The commonly cultivated Pilosocereus pachycladus is a blue cactus with hairy areoles that emit golden spines.-Synonymy:...
, PolaskiaPolaskiaPolaskia is a genus of tree-like cacti reaching 4–5 m high, comprising 2 species. Both present primitive characteristics, but Polaskia chichipe is nearer to Myrtillocactus while Polaskia chende is nearer to Stenocereus...
, PraecereusPraecereusPraecereus is genus of cactus. It is sometimes included in the genus Cereus....
, PseudoacanthocereusPseudoacanthocereusPseudoacanthocereus is a genus of cacti....
, PseudorhipsalisPseudorhipsalisPseudorhipsalis is genus of cacti. This genus is often included in Disocactus....
, PterocactusPterocactusPterocactus is a genus of the cactus family , comprising 9 species. All Pterocactus have tuberous roots and are endemic to South and Western Argentina. The genus has been given its own tribe, the Pterocacteae....
, PygmaeocereusPygmaeocereusPygmaeocereus is a genus of diminutive cacti . These species generally do not reaching more than 4 inches high, produce a large tuberous root system and scented night flowers....
, QuiabentiaQuiabentiaQuiabentia is a genus of cacti, closely related to Pereskiopsis....
, RauhocereusRauhocereusRauhocereus is a genus of cacti with nocturnal flowers. It is known from northern Peru ....
, RebutiaRebutiaRebutia K. Schum. is a genus in the family Cactaceae, native to Bolivia and Argentina.It was designated in 1895 by Karl Moritz Schumann and named after Pierre Rebut , a French cactus nurseryman. The type species is R.minuscula, which has been in cultivation since 1887...
, RhipsalisRhipsalisRhipsalis is a genus of epiphytic cacti. They are typically known as mistletoe cacti. The scientific name derives from the Ancient Greek term for wickerwork, referring to the plants' habitus. Rhipsalis is one is part of the tribe Rhipsalideae within the subfamily Cactoideae of the Cactaceae...
, Samaipaticereus, SchlumbergeraSchlumbergeraSchlumbergera is a genus of cactus from the coastal mountains of south-eastern Brazil. Plants grow on trees or rocks in habitats which are generally shady with high humidity and can be quite different in appearance from their desert-dwelling cousins...
, SclerocactusSclerocactusSclerocactus is a genus of cacti. It comprises about 15 species, the exact number depending on the authority. These species are very xerophytic...
, Selenicereus, StenocactusStenocactusStenocactus is a genus of cacti.-Synonymy:The following genera have been brought into synonymy with Sclerocactus:*Echinofossulocactus Britton & Rose*Efossus Orcutt...
, StenocereusStenocereusStenocereus is a genus of columnar or tree-like cacti from the Baja California Peninsula and other parts of Mexico, Arizona in the United States, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Venezuela and the ABC islands of the Dutch Caribbean. The genus has been enlarged by the addition of species from several other...
, StephanocereusStephanocereusStephanocereus is genus of cactus from Brazil, related to Arrojadoa. This genus was monotypic until Pilosocereus luetzelburgii was included here, resulting in the combination Stephanocereus luetzelburgii....
, Stetsonia, Strombocactus, TacingaTacingaTacinga is a genus in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to northeast Brazil . Once thought to be monotypic, the genus now comprises 6 species....
, ThelocactusThelocactusThelocactus is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae. Members of the genus are native to the arid lands of Central and Northern Mexico.-Description:...
, TurbinicarpusTurbinicarpusTurbinicarpus is a genus of very small to medium-sized cacti, which inhabit the north-eastern regions of Mexico, in particular the states of San Luis Potosí, Guanajuato, Nuevo León, Querétaro, Hidalgo, Coahuila, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.-Ecology:...
, UebelmanniaUebelmanniaUebelmannia is genus of cactus.It was named after the Swiss collector Werner J. Uebelmann ....
, WeberbauerocereusWeberbauerocereusWeberbauerocereus is a genus of ceroid cactus, considered to be intermediate between the genera Trichocereus and Cleistocactus. The genus is named after August Weberbauer because of his extensive research in the Peruvian Andes.Species include:...
, WeberocereusWeberocereusWeberocereus is genus of cacti. It produces a green and white flower and is found mainly in Costa Rica and Nicaragua.-Synonymy:The following genera have been brought into synonymy with Weberocereus:*Eccremocactus Britton & Rose...
, Yungasocereus - CampanulaceaeCampanulaceaeThe family Campanulaceae , of the order Asterales, contains about 2000 species in 70 genera of herbaceous plants, shrubs, and rarely small trees, often with milky non-toxic sap...
: Brighamia - Capparidaceae: MaeruaMaeruaMaerua is a genus of plant in family Capparaceae. Among its species:* Maerua acuminata Oliver* Maerua andradae Wild* Maerua brunnescens Wild* Maerua crassifolia Forssk.* Maerua elegans R. Wilczek...
- CaricaceaeCaricaceaeCaricaceae are a family of flowering plants in the order Brassicales, native to tropical regions of Central and South America and Africa. They are short-lived evergreen pachycaul shrubs or small trees growing to 5-10 m tall...
: CaricaCaricaCarica is a genus of Jerry Trainor in the family Caricaceae including one species, Carica papaya, the papaya Carica is a genus of Jerry Trainor in the family Caricaceae including one species, Carica papaya, the papaya Carica is a genus of Jerry Trainor in the family Caricaceae including one...
, Jacarathia - ChenopodiaceaeChenopodiaceaeChenopodiaceae were a family of flowering plants, also called the Goosefoot Family. They are now included within family Amaranthaceae. The vast majority of Chenopods are weeds, and many are salt and drought tolerant. A few food crops also belong to the family: spinach, beets, chard, quinoa, and...
: AtriplexAtriplexAtriplex is a plant genus of 100-200 species, known by the common names of saltbush and orache . The genus is quite variable and widely distributed. It includes many desert and seashore plants and halophytes, as well as plants of moist environments...
, ChenopodiumChenopodiumChenopodium is a genus of about 150 species of perennial or annual herbaceous flowering plants known as the goosefoots, which occur almost anywhere in the world. It is placed in the family Amaranthaceae in the APG II system; older classifications separate it and its relatives as Chenopodiaceae, but...
, Dissocarpus, EinadiaEinadiaEinadia is a plant genus in the family Amaranthaceae. The species, which are native to Australia and New Zealand, include:*Einadia hastata A.J.Scott - Saloop*Einadia nutans A.J.Scott - Nodding Saltbush...
, EnchylaenaEnchylaenaEnchylaena is a genus of two species of small perennial shrubs endemic to Australia. Plants of this genus are commonly known as barrier saltbushes.The genus was published by Robert Brown in 1810, along with the species Enchylaena tomentosa...
, Eremophea, Halopeplis, MaireanaMaireanaMaireana is a genus of around 57 species of perennial shrubs and herbs in the family Amaranthaceae which are endemic to Australia. Species in this genus were formerly classified within the genus Kochia...
, Malacocera, Neobassia, Osteocarpum, RhagodiaRhagodiaRhagodia is a genus of shrubs native to Australia. They are common in salt marsh and may be succulent, like other salt tolerant species its members are commonly known as saltbushes.Species include:...
, Roycea, Halosarcia, Salicornia, SalsolaSalsolaSalsola is a genus of the subfamily Salsoloideae in the family Amaranthaceae. A common name of various members of this genus is saltwort, for its salt tolerance.-Description:...
, SarcocorniaSarcocorniaSarcocornia is a genus of succulent salt tolerant coastal plants.-Species:*S. alpini*S. blackiana *S. fruticosa*Sarcocornia globosa...
, Sclerochlamys, Sclerolaena, Sueda, TecticorniaTecticorniaTecticornia is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plant largely endemic to Australia. In 2007, the genus Halosarcia, along with three other Australian genera was incorporated intothe genus....
, ThrelkeldiaThrelkeldiaThrelkeldia is a genus of annuals or short-lived perennials in the family Amaranthaceae. There are two species, both of which are endemic to Australia... - CochlospermaceaeCochlospermaceaeCochlospermaceae is a family of two genera and 20-25 species of trees and shrubs. They occur widely throughout the tropical regions of the world, but are curiously absent from Malaysia. Most species in this family are mesophytic or xerophytic, growing primarily in drier climates.Some authorities...
- CommelinaceaeCommelinaceaeCommelinaceae is a family of flowering plants. In less formal contexts, the group is referred to as the dayflower family or spiderwort family. It is one of five families in the order Commelinales and by far the largest of these with an estimated 650 species in 40 genera. Well known genera include...
: AneilemaAneilemaAneilema is a genus of plant in family Commelinaceae. It contains the following species:List may be incomplete.* Aneilema aequinoctiale, P.Beauv.* Aneilema silvaticum, Brenan* Aneilema biflorum, R.Br.* Aneilema acuminatum...
, CallisiaCallisiaCallisia is a genus of flowering plants in the spiderwort family, Commelinaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as Roselings. The generic name is derived from the Greek word καλλον , meaning "beauty."...
, CyanotisCyanotisCyanotis is a genus of mainly perennial plants in the family Commelinaceae. World-wide, there are an estimated 50-100 species, including:* Cyanotis cristata* Cyanotis kewensis* Cyanotis fasciculata...
, TradescantiaTradescantiaTradescantia , the Spiderworts, is a genus of an estimated 71 species of perennial plants in the family Commelinaceae, native to the New World from southern Canada south to northern Argentina. They are weakly upright to scrambling plants, growing to 30–60 cm tall, and are commonly found...
, Tripogandra - ConvolvulaceaeConvolvulaceaeConvolvulaceae, known commonly as the bindweed or morning glory family, are a group of about 60 genera and more than 1,650 species of mostly herbaceous vines, but also trees, shrubs and herbs.- Description :...
: Ipomea, MerremiaMerremiaMerremia is a genus of flowering plants in the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as woodroses.-Selected species:-Formerly placed here:...
, Stictocardia, TurbinaTurbinaTurbina is a black and white Czech drama film. It was released in 1941. It was filmed by Director Otakar Vávrou, according to the draft Harish Matěj Čapek-Choda. The film takes place in the 19th century... - CrassulaceaeCrassulaceaeCrassulaceae, or the orpine family, are a family of dicotyledons. They store water in their succulent leaves. They are found worldwide, but mostly occur in the Northern Hemisphere and southern Africa, typically in dry and/or cold areas where water may be scarce...
: AdromischusAdromischusAdromischus is a genus of easily propagated leaf succulents from the Crassulaceae family.Adromischus are endemic to southern Africa.The name comes from the ancient Greek "adros" et "mischos" .- Species :* Adromischus alstonii...
, AeoniumAeoniumAeonium is a genus of about 35 species of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae.The name comes from the ancient Greek "aionos" ....
, Afrovivella, AichrysonAichrysonAichryson is a genus of about 15 species of succulent, subtropical plants, mostly native to the Canary Islands, with a few in the Azores, Madeira and Morocco, and one in Portugal.The species of Aichryson are not frost-resistant...
, BryophyllumBryophyllumThe Bryophyllums are a section in the plant genus Kalanchoe of the Crassulaceae family. There are about twenty to thirty species in the group, native originally of South Africa, Madagascar, and Asia...
, CotyledonCotyledon (genus)Cotyledon is a genus of the Crassulaceae family. Plants in the genus occur in the Arabian peninsula and throughout the drier parts of Africa, but mainly in Southern Africa....
, CrassulaCrassulaCrassula is a large genus of succulent plants containing many species, including the popular Jade Plant, Crassula ovata. They are native to many parts of the globe, but cultivated varieties are almost exclusively from the Eastern Cape of South Africa....
, CremnophilaCremnophilaCremnophila is a genus of snout moths. It was described by Ragonot in 1893, and is known from Russia, Siberia, China, Austria, and Switzerland.-Species:* Cremnophila pyraustella Zerny, 1914* Cremnophila sedakovella...
, × Cremnosedum× Cremnosedum× Cremnosedum is a hybrid genus produced from crosses involving the genera Cremnophila and Sedum. This bigeneric name was first published in 1981 with the introduction of the cultivar 'Little Gem' in an article advertising plants offered by the International Succulent Institute in the Cactus and...
, DudleyaDudleyaDudleya is a genus of succulent perennials, consisting of about 45 species in southwest North America.Many plants in the Dudleya genus were formerly classified as Echeveria....
, EcheveriaEcheveriaEcheveria is a large genus of succulents in the Crassulaceae family, native from Mexico to northwestern South America. The genus is named after the 18th century Mexican botanical artist Atanasio Echeverría y Godoy...
, GraptopetalumGraptopetalumGraptopetalum is a plant genus of the family Crassulaceae. They are perennial succulent plants and native to Mexico and Arizona. They grow usually in a rosette...
, HylotelephiumHylotelephiumHylotelephium is a genus of family Crassulaceae. It includes about 33 species distributed in Asia, Europe, and North America.Species in the genus, formerly included in Sedum, are popular garden plants, known as "live-for-ever" or "orpine."...
, HypagophytumHypagophytumHypagophytum is a genus of family Crassulaceae. It includes only the species Hypagophytum abyssinicum, endemic to Ethiopia....
, KalanchoeKalanchoeKalanchoe , also written Kalanchöe or Kalanchoë, is a genus of about 125 species of tropical, succulent flowering plants in the Family Crassulaceae, mainly native to the Old World but with a few species now growing wild in the New World following introduction of the species.Most are shrubs or...
, LenophyllumLenophyllumLenophyllum is a genus of flowering plants in the orpine family, Crassulaceae. The roughly seven species it contains are distributed in Texas in the United States and northeastern Mexico. Some authorities place it in the genus Sedum. Plants in this genus are distinguished from Sedum species by the...
, Meterostachys, MonanthesMonanthesMonanthes is a genus of small, succulent, subtropical plants of the Crassulaceae family. The about ten species are mostly endemic to the Canary Islands and Salvage Islands, with some found on Madeira. Its center of diversity is Tenerife, with seven species occurring on this island. On...
, Orostachys, Pachyphytum, Perrierosedum, Phedimus, Pistorinia, PrometheumPrometheumPrometheum is a genus of Crassulaceae....
, Pseudosedum, RhodiolaRhodiolaRhodiola is a genus of perennial plants in the family Crassulaceae that resemble Sedum and other members of the family. Like sedums, Rhodiola species are often called stonecrops. Some authors merge Rhodiola into Sedum....
, RosulariaRosulariaRosularia is a genus of family Crassulaceae. It includes about 35 species from Europe and northern Africa....
, SedellaSedella (genus)Sedella is a small genus of flowering plants in the stonecrop family. There are three or four species, all native to California, one with a distribution extending into Oregon...
, SedumSedumSedum is a large genus of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, members of which are commonly known as stonecrops. It contains around 400 species of leaf succulents that are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere, varying from annual and creeping herbs to shrubs. The plants have...
, Sempervivum, SinocrassulaSinocrassulaSinocrassula is a genus of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Crassulaceae.The name "Sinocrassula" means "Chinese crassula". They comes from the province Yunnan in the south of China, and also from the north of Burma...
, ThompsonellaThompsonellaThompsonella is a genus of family Crassulaceae. It includes about eight species endemic to Mexico....
, Tacitus, TylecodonTylecodonTylecodon is a genus of plants in the family Crassulaceae. Until the late 1970s all these plants were included in the genus Cotyledon, but in 1978 Dr Helmut Toelken of the South Australian Herbarium split them off into a genus of their own...
, UmbilicusUmbilicus (genus)Umbilicus is a genus of over ninety species of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae. Many of its species have been given synonyms under different genera such as Rosularia, Cotyledon, and Chiastophyllum...
, VilladiaVilladiaVilladia is a genus of family Crassulaceae. It includes about 25 to 30 species distributed from Texas to Peru.-Synonyms:Altamiranoa was a genus of the Crassulaceae, that Joseph Nelson Rose proposed in the early 1900's for 12 Mexican species, three described as new and nine formerly in Cotyledon,... - CucurbitaceaeCucurbitaceaeThe plant family Cucurbitaceae consists of various squashes, melons, and gourds, including crops such as cucumber, pumpkins, luffas, and watermelons...
: AcanthosicyosAcanthosicyosAcanthosicyos is a genus of thorny shrubs of the botanical family Cucurbitaceae, subfamily Cucurbitoideae. The genus name derives from the Greek words "akantha" for thorn and "sykios" for cucumber or gourd...
, ApodantheraApodantheraApodanthera is a genus of plants in the family Cucurbitaceae....
, BrandegeaBrandegeaBrandegea is a monotypic genus containing the single species Brandegea bigelovii, the desert starvine. This sprawling perennial vine in the squash family is native to the deserts of California, Arizona, and northern Mexico. The distinctive small, dark-green leaves are variable in shape but are...
, Cephalopentandra, Ceratosanthes, CitrullusCitrullusCitrullus is a small genus of desert vines, among which Citrullus lanatus is an important crop.- Classifications of Citrullus :A = names approved by most authorities, s = approved as synonyms- Citroides Group :...
, CocciniaCocciniaThe Scarlet gourds is a genus with 28-30 species.. It is distributed in sub-Saharan Africa and with one species in South and Southeast Asia that is also introduced into the New World. It is best known for the cultivated crop C. grandis, the Ivy gourd.References:...
, Corallocarpus, Cucumella, CucumisCucumisCucumis is a genus of twining, tendril-bearing plants in the Cucurbitaceae family which includes the cucumber, true melons, the horned melon, and Cucumis anguria, the West Indian gherkin...
, CucurbitaCucurbitaCucurbita is a genus in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae first cultivated in Mesoamerica and now used in many parts of the world. It includes species grown for their fruit and edible seeds , as well as some species grown only as gourds...
, Cyclantheropsis, Dactyliandra, DendrosicyosDendrosicyosDendrosicyos is a monotypic genus in the Cucurbitaceae. The only species is Dendrosicyos socotranus, the cucumber tree. The species is endemic to the island of Socotra in Yemen, and is the only species in the Cucurbitaceae to grow in a tree form.- Features :It has a bulbous trunk and a small crown....
, Doyera, Eureindra, FevilleaFevilleaFevillea is a genus of the plant family Cucurbitaceae and the only genus of the subtribe Fevilleinae. Some references suggest that there is only one member of this genus, Fevillea cordifolia...
, Gerrandanthus, Gynostemma, Halosicyos, Ibervilla, Kedostris, LagenariaLagenariaLagenaria is a genus of gourd bearing vines from the family Cucurbitaceae, also known as the "Squash" family. It contains at least seven species, one of which is known as the Calabash . Its species fruit can either be harvested young and used as a vegetable or harvested mature, dried, and used as...
, Marah, MomordicaMomordicaMomordica is a genus of about 60 species of annual or perennial climbers herbaceous or rarely small shrubs belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae, natives of tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia and Australia...
, Neoalsomitra, Odosicyos, Parasicyos, Syrigia, TelfairiaTelfairiaTelfairia is a small genus of flowering plants in the squash family which are native to Africa. They include Telfairia occidentalis, the fluted pumpkin, which is an important vegetable in Nigeria and other African nations. It is also known as the oyster nut, a common name it shares with its...
, Trochomeria, Trochomeriopsis, Tumamoca, XerosicyosXerosicyosXerosicyos is a flowering plant genus of the family Cucurbitaceae. Its name comes from Greek xeros and sicyos . There are three species, all endemic to Madagascar. Xerosicyos danguyi is a large liana with thick stems and round, gray succlent leaves. It is common in cultivation and often called...
, ZehneriaZehneriaZehneria is a genus of flowering plants – of vines in the cucumber and gourd family Cucurbitaceae. It contains about 35 species ranging from Africa, through Southeast Asia to Australia and Oceania. The name honours botanical artist Joseph Zehner....
, Zygosicyos - DidiereaceaeDidiereaceaeDidiereaceae is a small family of just four genera and 11 species of flowering plants endemic to south and southwest Madagascar, where they form an important component of the Madagascar spiny forests.-Description:...
: AlluaudiaAlluaudiaAlluaudia is a genus of six species of flowering plants endemic to Madagascar, where they form an important component of the Madagascar spiny forests. They are spiny succulent shrubs and trees from 2–20 m tall, with leaves that are deciduous in the long dry season...
, Alluaudiopsis, Decaria, Didierea - DioscoreaceaeDioscoreaceaeDioscoreaceae is a family of monocotyledonous flowering plants, with about 750 species in eight or nine genera. The best-known member of the family is the Yam ....
: DioscoreaDioscoreaDioscorea is a genus of over 600 species of flowering plants in the family Dioscoreaceae, native throughout the tropical and warm temperate regions of the world. The vast majority of the species are tropical, with only a few species extending into temperate climates...
(geophytic succulent) - DoryanthaceaeDoryanthaceaeDoryanthaceae is the botanical name of a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots.The family has only recently been recognized by taxonomists. The APG III system of 2009 does recognize this family...
: DoryanthesDoryanthesDoryanthes is a plant genus of the species Doryanthes excelsa and Doryanthes palmeri and native to the coast of Eastern Australia.These plants grow in a rosette form. It takes more than 10 years for them to get flowers... - EricaceaeEricaceaeThe Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants...
: Sphyrospermum - Eriospermaceae: EriospermumEriospermumEriospermum is a genus of tuberous flowering plants from South Africa. "Eriospermum" is from the Greek erion for "wool" and sperma for "seed". In the APG III classification system, the genus is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae . It was formerly placed in its own family,...
(geophyte) - EuphorbiaceaeEuphorbiaceaeEuphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti....
: CnidoscolusCnidoscolusCnidoscolus is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words κνίδη , meaning "nettle," and σκολος , meaning "thorn" or "prickle."-Selected species:...
, Euphorbia, JatrophaJatrophaJatropha is a genus of approximately 175 succulent plants, shrubs and trees , from the family Euphorbiaceae. The name is derived from the Greek words ἰατρός , meaning "physician," and τροφή , meaning "nutrition," hence the common name physic nut. Mature plants produce separate male and female...
, Monadenium, Pedilanthus, Synadenium - FabaceaeFabaceaeThe Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species...
: DelonixDelonixDelonix is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, subfamily Caesalpinioideae. It contains trees that are native to Madagascar and east Africa. By far the best known species is the Royal Poinciana ....
, DolichosDolichosDolichos or Dolichus is derived from the Ancient Greek word for "long" . It may refer to* Dolichos , a genus of legumes* Dolichos , long-race in ancient Olympics...
, ErythrinaErythrinaErythrina is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. It contains about 130 species, which are distributed in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. They are trees, growing up to in height...
, LotononisLotononisLotononis is a genus of legume in the Fabaceae family and in the Crotalarieae tribe. This is a partial list of species that belong to the genus:* Lotononis adpressa N. E. Br.* Lotononis angolensis Welw. ex Baker...
, NeorautaneniaNeorautaneniaNeorautanenia is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It belongs to the sub family Faboideae....
, PachyrhizusPachyrhizusPachyrhizus is a small genus of five or six species of tropical and subtropical plants growing from large, often edible taproots.- Jícama :...
, TylosemaTylosemaThe genus Tylosema is in the plant family Fabaceae.There are four documented species within the genus Tylosema:*Tylosema esculentum , Schreiber - Marama bean*T. fassoglensis*T. argentea Brenan... - Fouquieriaceae: FouquieriaFouquieriaFouquieria is a genus of 11 species of desert plants, the sole genus in the family Fouquieriaceae. The genus includes the ocotillo and the boojum tree or cirio . They have semi-succulent stems with thinner spikes projecting from them, with leaves on the bases spikes...
- GeraniaceaeGeraniaceaeGeraniaceae is a family of flowering plants placed in the order Geraniales. The family name is derived from the genus Geranium. It includes both the genus Geranium and the garden plants called geraniums, which modern botany classifies as genus Pelargonium, along with other related genera.There are...
: Monsonia, PelargoniumPelargoniumPelargonium is a genus of flowering plants which includes about 200 species of perennials, succulents, and shrubs, commonly known as scented geraniums or storksbills. Confusingly, Geranium is the correct botanical name of a separate genus of related plants often called Cranesbills. Both Geranium...
(succulents and geophytes), Sarcocaulon - GesneriaceaeGesneriaceaeGesneriaceae is a family of flowering plants consisting of ca. 150 genera and ca. 3,200 species in the Old World and New World tropics and subtropics, with a very small number extending to temperate areas. Many species have colorful and showy flowers and are cultivated as ornamental plants.Most...
: AeschynanthusAeschynanthusAeschynanthus is a genus of ca. 185 species of tropical herbs. They are found in southern and southeastern Asia, the islands of Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. They are usually trailing epiphytes with brightly colored flowers that are pollinated by sunbirds. Among the better known...
, AlsobiaAlsobiaAlsobia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae, native to Mexico, Guatemala and Costa Rica.The two species are succulent, stoloniferous herbs and were previously included in the genus Episcia. Recent molecular studies have supported the separation of Alsobia from...
, ChiritaChiritaChirita is an Old World genus of the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae centred on Indo-Malaysia, S. E. Asia, and southern China. There are currently about 150 species recognised in the genus, about 100 of which are endemic to China...
, CodonantheCodonantheCodonanthe is a New World genus, consists of a dozen or more species of evergreen epiphytic compact creeping vines with rooting along their stems, and scandent herbs or subshrubs with woody, upright stems from Brazil, Guiana, Central America and West Indies. In its own habitat, the plant usually...
, ColumneaColumneaColumnea is a genus of ca. 200 species of epiphytic herbs and shrubs in the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae, native to tropical America and the Caribbean. The tubular or oddly shaped flowers are usually large and brightly colored – usually red, yellow, or orange – sometimes...
, NematanthusNematanthusNematanthus is a genus of flowering plants of the family Gesneriaceae. Compared to other gesneriads, Nematanthus has leaves that are small, succulent, and hard-surfaced...
, SinningiaSinningiaSinningia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae. It is named after Wilhelm Sinning , a gardener of the Botanische Gärten der Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn...
, StreptocarpusStreptocarpusStreptocarpus is a genus of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Gesneriaceae, closely related to the genus Saintpaulia. One common name is Cape Primrose, referring to the nativity of several species to South Africa and their superficial resemblance to the genus Primula... - AsparagaceaeAsparagaceaeAsparagaceae is the botanical name of a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots.In earlier classification systems, the species involved were often treated as belonging to the family Liliaceae...
: Scilloideae (geophytes, a few succulent geophytes): AlbucaAlbucaAlbuca is a genus of plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. Most of the 100-140 species of bulbous plants in this genus are endemic to Southern Africa....
, BowieaBowieaBowiea is a bulbous genus of perennial, succulent plants which thrive in dry and desert regions of South Africa and America. The plants have many overlapping scales, which form a tight, pale green, spherical bulb that grows to 8 in above the soil, sending up a twining fresh-green branched stem...
, Daubenya, Dipcadi, DrimiaDrimiaDrimia is a genus of flowering plants. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae . The genus includes Urginea....
, DrimiopsisDrimiopsisDrimiopsis is a genus of African bulbous perennial herbs in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. Sometimes species are placed under the genus Ledebouria.-External links:* Drimiopsis info at the pacific bulb society ....
, EucomisEucomisEucomis is a genus of African bulbs in the asparagus family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. Most species of this genus are commonly referred to as pineapple flowers or pineapple lilies.-Etymology:...
, Hyacinthus, LachenaliaLachenaliaLachenalia is a genus of bulbs in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, which are usually found in Namibia and South Africa. Most of these plants have a dormancy period, and the new roots of these plants will always grow every year. Lachenalia is named after the Swiss botanist Werner de...
, LedebouriaLedebouriaLedebouria is a genus of African bulbous perennial herbs in the Asparagus family, Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. Most members were previously part of the genus Scilla. A number of species are grown by cacti and succulent enthusiasts for their patterned leaves.- Species :* Ledebouria...
, Litanthus, MassoniaMassoniaMassonia is a genus of bulbous perennials in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae native to southern Africa. It is named after the Scottish botanist and gardener Francis Masson.. There are 6 species in this genus: Massonia angustifolia, Massonia depressa, Massonia echinata, Massonia...
, Merwilla, Namophila, Ornithogalum, PolyxenaPolyxenaIn Greek mythology, Polyxena was the youngest daughter of King Priam of Troy and his queen, Hecuba. She is considered the Trojan version of Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Polyxena is not in Homer's Iliad, appearing in works by later poets, perhaps to add romance to Homer's...
, Pseudogaltonia, Pseudoprospero, Resnova, RhadamanthusRhadamanthusIn Greek mythology, Rhadamanthus was a wise king, the son of Zeus and Europa. Later accounts even make him out to be one of the judges of the dead. His brothers were Sarpedon and Minos . Rhadamanthus was raised by Asterion. He had two sons, Gortys and Erythrus. Other sources In Greek mythology,...
, Rhodocodon, Schizobasis, Schizocarphus, Spetaea, Urginea, VeltheimiaVeltheimiaVeltheimia is a genus of perennial plants native to South Africa in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae.There are two species:*Veltheimia bracteata Harv. ex Baker*Veltheimia capensis DC....
, WhiteheadiaWhiteheadiaWhiteheadia is a genus of plant in family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. It contains the following species :* Whiteheadia etesionamibensis, U. & D.M-D... - HypoxidaceaeHypoxidaceaeHypoxidaceae is the botanical name of a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots.The family has only recently been recognized by taxonomists. The APG III system of 2009 does recognize this family...
(geophytes): Empodium, HypoxisHypoxisHypoxis is a genus of plant belonging to the Hypoxidaceae family. The seeds are needed to identify many species.Species include:...
, Pauridia, Saniella, SpiloxeneSpiloxeneSpiloxene is a genus of about 25 plant species belonging to the Hypoxidaceae family. Most Spiloxene species are native to South Africa, with four native to Australia and New Zealand. The rootstock is a corm, leaves are linear to ovate, and flowers are star or funnel shaped.-References:Manning,... - IcacinaceaeIcacinaceaeIcacinaceae is a family of flowering plants.It consists of trees, shrubs, and lianas, primarily of the tropics.The family was traditionally circumscribed quite broadly, with around 55 genera totalling over 400 species...
: PyrenacanthaPyrenacanthaPyrenacantha is a genus of plant in family Icacinaceae. It has about 20 species, all from the Old World tropics. The type species, Pyrenacantha volubilis, was named by William Jackson Hooker in 1830. Pyrenacantha cordicula is from tropical West Africa....
(geophyte) - IridaceaeIridaceaeThe Iris family or Iridaceae is a family of perennial, herbaceous and bulbous plants included in the monocot order Asparagales, taking its name from the genus Iris. Almost worldwide in distribution and one of the most important families in horticulture, it includes more than 2000 species...
(geophytes): BabianaBabianaBabiana Ker Gawler is a genus of flowering plants in the Family Iridaceae composed of about 80 species. Most of these species are found in the southwestern Cape of Africa, with the remainder distributed in Namaqualand and Northern Cape Province...
, ChasmantheChasmantheChasmanthe is a genus of flowering plants in the iris familywhich originate from South Africa. In their native habitat the flowers are pollinated by sunbirds...
, CrocosmiaCrocosmiaCrocosmia is a small perennial genus in the iris family Iridaceae, native to the grasslands of Cape Floristic Region, South Africa.They can be evergreen or deciduous perennial herbs, that grow from basal underground corms. The basal, alternate leaves are cauline and distichous...
, Devia, DieramaDieramaDierama is a genus in the Iridaceae. Its common names are not stably established, but various species are loosely known by names such as as Fairy's Fishing Rods, Fairy's Wands, Fairy Bells, Wedding Bells, Hairbells, Harebells...
, DietesDietesDietes is a genus of rhizomatous plants of the family Iridaceae. Common names include Fortnight lily, African iris, Morea or Moraea iris, Japanese iris and Butterfly iris, each of which may be used differently in different regions for one or more of the four species within the genus.Most species...
, Duthiastrum, FerrariaFerrariaFerraria is a genus of 11 species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, native to tropical and southern Africa. They are herbaceous corm-bearing plants growing to 30–45 cm tall. Some species have an unpleasant scent similar to rotting meat and are pollinated by flies,...
, FreesiaFreesiaFreesia Ecklon ex Klatt is a genus of 14–16 species of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae, native to Africa. Of the 14 species, 12 are native to Cape Province, South Africa, the remaining two to tropical Africa, one species extending north of the equator to Sudan.The genus was named in honor...
, GeissorhizaGeissorhizaGeissorhiza is a genus of about 80 species of flowering plants in the iris family which originate from South Africa. The genus name is derived from the Greek words geisson, meaning "tile", and rhizon, meaning "root".Here are some of them:...
, GladiolusGladiolusGladiolus is a genus of perennial bulbous flowering plants in the iris family...
, HesperanthaHesperanthaHesperantha is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae. The genus name is derived from the Greek words hesperos, meaning "evening", and anthos, meaning "flower"....
, IxiaIxiaThe genus Ixia consists of a number of cormous plants native to South Africa from the Iridaceae family and Ixioideae subfamily. Some of them are known as the corn lily. Some distinctive traits include: sword-like leaves, and long wiry stems with star-shaped flowers. It usually prefers well-drained...
, Lapeirousia, MelasphaerulaMelasphaerulaMelasphaerula is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae. The genus name is derived from the Greek words melas, meaning "black", and sphaerulos, meaning "small sphere"....
, MicranthusMicranthusMicranthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae. The genus name is derived from the Greek words micro, meaning "small", and anthos, meaning "flower"....
, MoraeaMoraeaMoraea is a genus of plants in the family Iridaceae. The genus name is a tribute to the English botanist Robert Moore.The technical botanical material in this entry is abstracted largely from “The Genera of Southern African Flowering Plants”-Description:...
, PillansiaPillansiaPillansia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae. The genus name is a tribute to the South African botanist Neville Stuart Pillans, who brought the species to the attention of Harriet Margaret Louisa Bolus....
, RadinosiphonRadinosiphonRadinosiphon is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae. The genus name is derived from the Greek words radinosus, meaning "slender", and siphon, meaning "tube"....
, RomuleaRomuleaRomulea is a genus of about 80 species of flowering plants in the iris family distributed in Europe, the Mediterranean, and South Africa. The genus name refers to the legendary Rome founder Romulus, and alludes to the abundance of one of the species in the Roman countryside.Some of the species:*...
, SparaxisSparaxisSparaxis is a genus in the family Iridaceae with about 13 species endemic to Cape Province, South Africa.All are perennials that grow during the wet winter season, flower in spring and survive underground as dormant corms over summer...
, SyringodeaSyringodeaSyringodea is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae. The genus name is derived from the Greek word syrinx, meaning "pipe", and alludes to the long perianth tube....
, ThereianthusThereianthusThereianthus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae. The genus name is derived from the Greek words thereios, meaning "summer", and anthos, meaning "flower"....
, TritoniaTritoniaTritonia may refer to:* Tritonia * Tritonia * Tritonia...
, TritoniopsisTritoniopsisTritoniopsis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Iridaceae. The genus name refers to the African genus Trionia and is combined with the Greek word opsis, meaning "look-alike"....
, WatsoniaWatsoniaWatsonia can refer to:* Watsonia , a genus of flowering plants in the iris family.* Watsonia , a botanical journal .* Watsonia, Victoria, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia....
, XenoscapaXenoscapaXenoscapa is a genus of herbaceous, perennial and bulbous plants in the Iris family . It consists of only two species distributed in Africa, and closely related to the genera Freesia and Anomatheca. The genus name is derived from the Greek words xenos, meaning "strange", and scapa, meaning... - LamiaceaeLamiaceaeThe mints, taxonomically known as Lamiaceae or Labiatae, are a family of flowering plants. They have traditionally been considered closely related to Verbenaceae, but in the 1990s, phylogenetic studies suggested that many genera classified in Verbenaceae belong instead in Lamiaceae...
: Aeollanthus, Dauphinea, Perrierastrum, PlectranthusPlectranthusPlectranthus, with some 350 species, is a genus of warm-climate plants occurring largely in the southern hemisphere, in sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, India and the Indonesian archipelago down to Australia and some Pacific islands. It is closely related to Solenostemon, sometimes known as the...
, RothecaRothecaRotheca is a genus of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae. Estimates of the number of species in the genus vary from about 35 to as many as 60. Three of the species are native to tropical Asia, with the rest occurring in Sub-Saharan Africa. The type species for the genus is Rotheca serrata...
, Solenostemon, Tetradenia, Thorncroftia - LentibulariaceaeLentibulariaceaeLentibulariaceae is a family of carnivorous plants containing three genera, Genlisea, the corkscrew plants, Pinguicula, the butterworts, and Utricularia, the bladderworts....
- LoasaceaeLoasaceaeThe Loasaceae is a family of 15-20 genera and about 200-260 species of flowering plants in the order Cornales, native to the Americas and Africa. The family comprises annual, biennial and perennial herbaceous plants, and a few shrubs and small trees.Genera...
: Schismocarpus - LoranthaceaeLoranthaceaeLoranthaceae is a family of flowering plants, which has been universally recognized by taxonomists. It consists of about 75 genera and 1,000 species of woody plants, many of them hemi-parasites, all of them except three having the mistletoe habit...
: Actinanthella, Agelanthus, Erianthemum, HelixantheraHelixantheraHelixanthera is moderately sized genus of showy mistletoe with about 35 species from tropical Africa, southern Asia and Malesia. The genus was described already 1790 by the Portugues botanist Loureiro in his Flora Cochinchinensis. A new species, Helixanthera schizocalyx, was described as late as...
, Moquiniella, Oncocalyx, Pedistylis, Plicosepalus, Septulina, TapinanthusTapinanthusTapinanthus is a genus of plant in family Loranthaceae. It contains, among others, the following species:* Tapinanthus letouzeyi, R.M. Polhill & D. Wiens* Tapinanthus preussii, Tiegh.* Tapinanthus globifer...
, Vanwykia - MalvaceaeMalvaceaeMalvaceae, or the mallow family, is a family of flowering plants containing over 200 genera with close to 2,300 species. Judd & al. Well known members of this family include okra, jute and cacao...
: AdansoniaAdansoniaAdansonia is a genus of eight species of tree, six native to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and one to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island....
, CavanillesiaCavanillesiaCavanillesia is a genus of flowering plant in the Malvaceae family.It contains the following species :*Cavanillesia hylogeiton*Cavanillesia platanifolia, Cuipo*Cavanillesia umbellata...
, CeibaCeibaCeiba is the name of a genus of many species of large trees found in tropical areas, including Mexico, Central America, South America, The Bahamas, Belize and the Caribbean, West Africa, and Southeast Asia...
, PseudobombaxPseudobombaxPseudobombax is a genus of flowering plant in the Malvaceae family. Subfamily: BombacoideaeSpecies include:* Pseudobombax argentinum - Soroche* Pseudobombax ellipticum* Pseudobombax guayasense* Pseudobombax millei - Beldaco... - MelastomataceaeMelastomataceaeright|thumb|200px|Characteristic venation of many melastomesThe family Melastomataceae is a taxon of dicotyledonous flowering plants found mostly in the tropics comprising some 200 genera and 4500 species...
: MedinillaMedinillaMedinilla is a genus of about 150 species of flowering plants in the family Melastomataceae, native to tropical regions of the Old World from Africa east through Madagascar and southern Asia to the western Pacific Ocean islands. The genus was named after J. de Medinilla, governor of the Mariana... - MeliaceaeMeliaceaeThe Meliaceae, or the Mahogany family, is a flowering plant family of mostly trees and shrubs in the order Sapindales....
: EntandrophragmaEntandrophragmaEntandrophragma is a genus of eleven species of deciduous trees in the mahogany family Meliaceae, restricted to tropical Africa. At least some of the species attain large sizes, reaching 40-50 m tall, exceptionally 60 m, and 2 m in trunk diameter. The leaves are pinnate, with 5-9 pairs of leaflets,... - MenispermaceaeMenispermaceaeMenispermaceae, the botanical name for a family of flowering plants, has been universally recognized by taxonomists. Tubocurare, a neuromuscular blocker and active ingredient in curare, is derived from plants of this family....
: Chasmanthera, StephaniaStephaniaStephania is a genus of flowering plants in the family Menispermaceae, native to eastern and southern Asia and Australasia. They are herbaceous perennial vines growing to around four metres tall, with a large, woody caudex. The leaves are arranged spirally on the stem, and are peltate, with the...
, Tinospora - MolluginaceaeMolluginaceaeMolluginaceae is a family of flowering plants recognized by several taxonomists. The APG II system, of 2003 , also recognizes such a family and assigns it to the order Caryophyllales in the clade core eudicots...
: Hypertelis - MoraceaeMoraceaeMoraceae — often called the mulberry family or fig family — are a family of flowering plants comprising about 40 genera and over 1000 species. Most are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions, less so in temperate climates...
: DorsteniaDorsteniaDorstenia is a genus of about 105 species in the Moraceae plant family. Most species are Neotropical or Afrotropical, with a single species in India, Sri Lanka and the island of Socotra ....
, FicusFicusFicus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of... - Moringaceae: MoringaMoringaMoringa is the sole genus in the flowering plant family Moringaceae. The name is derived from the Tamil word murunggai or the Malayalam word muringa, both of which refer to M. oleifera...
- Nolanaceae: NolanaNolanaNolana is a genus of hard annual or perennial plants in the Nightshade family, which is native of costal areas in Chile and Peru.-Classification:...
- Nolinaceae: BeaucarneaBeaucarneaBeaucarnea is a genus of four species of flowering plant native to Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae...
, CalibanusCalibanusCalibanus is a genus of two species of flowering plants, both evergreen succulents from dry areas of Mexico. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae...
, DasylirionDasylirionDasylirion is a genus of 17 species of flowering plants, all native to Mexico, with three species also extending into the southwestern United States...
, NolinaNolinaNolina is a genus of tropical xerophytic flowering plants, with the principal distribution being in Mexico and extending into the southern United States. Some botanists have included the genus Beaucarnea in Nolina. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae,... - OrchidaceaeOrchidaceaeThe Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
subfamily EpidendroideaeEpidendroideaeIn plant systematics Epidendroideae is a subfamily of the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Epidendroideae is larger than all the other orchid subfamilies together, comprising more than 15,000 species in 576 genera. Most Epidendroid orchids are tropical epiphytes, typically with pseudobulbs...
PhalaenopsisPhalaenopsisPhalaenopsis Blume , abbreviated Phal in the horticultural trade, is an orchid genus of approximately 60 species. Phalaenopsis is one of the most popular orchids in the trade, through the development of many artificial hybrids.... - OrchidaceaeOrchidaceaeThe Orchidaceae, commonly referred to as the orchid family, is a morphologically diverse and widespread family of monocots in the order Asparagales. Along with the Asteraceae, it is one of the two largest families of flowering plants, with between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species,...
(succulents) AcampeAcampeAcampe, abbreviated as Acp in horticultural trade, is a genus of seven monopodial, epiphytic vandaceous species of orchids, distributed from tropical Africa to India, eastwards to China and southwards to Malaya, Indonesia, the Philippines and New Guinea...
, AerangisAerangisAerangis, abbreviated as Aergs in horticultural trade, is a genus of the Orchid family . The name of this genus has been derived from the Greek words 'aer' and 'angos' , referring to the form of the lip. It is the type genus of the subtribe Aerangidinae...
, AnselliaAnselliaAnsellia is a monotypic genus of orchid, with only one species, Ansellia africana, commonly known as African Ansellia or Leopard Orchid. It was named after John Ansell, an English assistant botanist. who found the first specimens in 1841 on the Fernando Po Island in West Africa...
, BolusiellaBolusiellaBolusiella is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It consists of about 6 species that are endemic to Africa. Bolusiella are often very small on the order of only a few inches and exhibit monopodial growth.- References :...
, BulbophyllumBulbophyllumBulbophyllum is the largest genus in the orchid family Orchidaceae. With more than 2,000 species, it is also one of the largest genera of flowering plants, exceeded only by Astragalus...
, CalantheCalantheCalanthe – commonly abbreviated Cal. in horticulture – is a widespread genus of terrestrial orchids with some 170 species.The genus is divided into 2 groups – deciduous species and evergreen ones...
, CyrtorchisCyrtorchisCyrtorchis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
, OberoniaOberoniaOberonia or Fairy Orchids form a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :* Jones, David L. . A Complete Guide to Native Orchids of Australia, Including the Island Territories. New Holland Publishers, Frenchs Forest, N.S.W. 2086 Australia. ISBN...
, PolystachyaPolystachyaPolystachya, abbreviated Pol in horticultural trade, is a flowering plant genus in the orchid family . This rather distinctive genus was described by William Jackson Hooker in 1824 and is the type genus of the subtribe Polystachyinae...
, TridactyleTridactyleTridactyle is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
, VanillaVanillaVanilla is a flavoring derived from orchids of the genus Vanilla, primarily from the Mexican species, Flat-leaved Vanilla . The word vanilla derives from the Spanish word "", little pod...
-
- (succulent geophytes) EulophiaEulophiaThe genus Eulophia, which also constitutes the monogeneric alliance Eulophia, includes 210 species of orchids. It was first described by John Lindley in 1821. The name "Eulophia" was derived from the Greek words "eu" and "lophos" , referring to the crested ridges of the labellum in most species...
, LiparisLiparisLiparis is a genus of orchids, commonly known as false twayblade. It comprises about 200 species with cosmopolitan distribution. Most species bear dull-coloured, purplish flowers in a terminal spike.-Selected species:*Liparis bautingensis...
, OeceocladesOeceocladesOeceoclades is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press.... - (geophytes) Acroliphia, BartholinaBartholinaA member of the Fynbos plant kingdom, Bartholina is also known as the "Spider Orchid". The common name comes from the array of fine feather-like petals that surround the flower resembling the legs of a spider....
, BonateaBonateaBonatea is a genus of moth in the family Geometridae.-References:*...
, BrachycorythisBrachycorythisBrachycorythis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
, BrownleeaBrownleeaBrownleea is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
, CentrostigmaCentrostigmaCentrostigma is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
, CeratandraCeratandraCeratandra is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
, CoryciumCoryciumCorycium is a genus of terrestrial Orchid comprising some 14 species in Eastern and Southern Africa including 10 species endemic to the fynbos. In South Africa they are called Monkshood Orchids....
, CynorkisCynorkisCynorkis is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
, DidymoplexisDidymoplexisDidymoplexis is a genus of 17 species of leafless, achlorophyllous orchids. Their rhizomes have aerial roots. Flowers are solitary, resupinate, and arranged into terminal or subterminal raceme. In particular, one dorsal sepal is fused with the petals forming a hoodlike structure.-List of species:...
, DisaDisa (orchid)The orchid genus Disa consists of 169 terrestrial orchid species in tropical and South Africa, Madagascar and along the Western Indian Ocean...
, DisperisDisperisDisperis is a genus of 74 species distributed in tropical and southern Africa, Madagascar, Mascarenes, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, Ryukyu Islands, China, Taiwan, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Philippines, New Guinea, and Carolines...
, Dracomonticola, EulophiaEulophiaThe genus Eulophia, which also constitutes the monogeneric alliance Eulophia, includes 210 species of orchids. It was first described by John Lindley in 1821. The name "Eulophia" was derived from the Greek words "eu" and "lophos" , referring to the crested ridges of the labellum in most species...
, EvotellaEvotellaEvotella is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
, GastrodiaGastrodiaGastrodia is a genus of achlorophyllous orchid with about 40 species. It is a traditional Chinese herb, Tian Ma ， and is commonly used in China to treat hypertension, improve circulation and resolve headaches...
, Habernaria, HolothrixHolothrixHolothrix is a genus of plant in family Orchidaceae. It contains the following species :-List of species:#Holothrix aphylla Rchb.f., Otia Bot. Hamburg.: 119 ....
, HuttonaeaHuttonaeaHuttonaea is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
, NeobolusiaNeobolusiaNeobolusia is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
, NerviliaNerviliaNervilia is a genus of orchid with about 65 species, 6 in Australia with 2 or 3 endemic and the rest widely distributed in tropical Asia, with 16 in India, and 5 in southern Africa....
, Plicosepalus, PachitesPachitesPachites is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
, PlatycorynePlatycorynePlatycoryne is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae.- References :*Pridgeon, A.M., Cribb, P.J., Chase, M.A. & Rasmussen, F. eds. . Genera Orchidacearum 1. Oxford Univ. Press....
- OxalidaceaeOxalidaceaeThe Oxalidaceae, or wood sorrel family, are a small family of eight genera of herbaceous plants, shrubs and small trees, with the great majority of the 900 species in the genus Oxalis...
(geophytes): OxalisOxalisOxalis is by far the largest genus in the wood-sorrel family Oxalidaceae: of the approximately 900 known species in the Oxalidaceae, 800 belong here... - PassifloraceaePassifloraceaePassifloraceae is a family of flowering plants, containing about 530 species classified in around 18 genera. They include trees, shrubs, lianas and climbing plants, and are mostly found in tropical regions....
: AdeniaAdeniaAdenia is a genus in the passionflower family Passifloraceae. It is named after Aden, a city in Yemen.The genus includes a number of tropical and subtropical xerophytes; many of which form substantially thickened bases or lianas. It is also a Caudiciform. Many species are characterised by the... - PedaliaceaePedaliaceaePedaliaceae is a flowering plant family classified in the order Scrophulariales in the Cronquist system and Lamiales in the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system...
: HolubiaHolubiaHolubia is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, containing the following species:* Holubia gabonica Bellamy, 2008* Holubia kheili Obenberger, 1924...
, Pterodiscus, SesamothamnusSesamothamnusSesamothamnus is a genus of plant in family Pedaliaceae. It contains the following species :* Sesamothamnus benguellensis, Welw.* Sesamothamnus busseanus, Engl.* Sesamothamnus guerichii, E.A. Bruce....
, UncarinaUncarinaUncarina is a genus of plant in family Pedaliaceae found in Madagascar. It contains the following species :* Uncarina decaryi, Humbert ex Ihlenf.* Uncarina didierii, Stapf... - PhyllanthaceaePhyllanthaceaePhyllanthaceae is a family of flowering plants in the eudicot order Malpighiales. It is most closely related to the family Picrodendraceae. The Phyllanthaceae are most numerous in the tropics, with many in the south temperate zone, and a few ranging as far north as the middle of the north temperate...
: PhyllanthusPhyllanthusPhyllanthus is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Phyllanthaceae. Estimates of the number species in this genus vary widely, from 750 to 1200. Phyllanthus has a remarkable diversity of growth forms including annual and perennial herbs, shrubs, climbers, floating aquatics, and... - PhytolaccaceaePhytolaccaceaePhytolaccaceae is the botanical name for a family of flowering plants. Such a family has been almost universally recognized by taxonomists, although its circumscription has varied. It is also known as the Pokeweed family....
: Phytolacca - PiperaceaePiperaceaeThe Piperaceae, also known as the pepper family, is a large family of flowering plants. The group contains roughly 3,610 currently accepted species in five genera. The vast majority of peppers can be found within the two main genera: Piper and Peperomia .Members of the Piperaceae may be small...
: PeperomiaPeperomiaPeperomia is one of the 2 large genera of the Piperaceae family, with more than 1000 recorded species. Most of them are compact, small perennial epiphytes growing on rotten wood. More than 1500 species have been recorded, occurring in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world, though... - PoaceaePoaceaeThe Poaceae is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of flowering plants. Members of this family are commonly called grasses, although the term "grass" is also applied to plants that are not in the Poaceae lineage, including the rushes and sedges...
: DregeochloaDregeochloaDregeochloa is a genus of grass in the Poaceae family. It is most remarkable for the species D. pumila which represents the only known example of leaf succulence to be found in the entire family.- External links :*... - PortulacaceaePortulacaceaePortulacaceae are a family of flowering plants, comprising about 20 genera with about 500 species, ranging from herbaceous plants to shrubs. The family has been recognised by most taxonomists, and is also known as the purslane family; it has a cosmopolitan distribution, with the highest diversity...
: Amphipetalum, AnacampserosAnacampserosAnacampseros is a genus consisting of a number of species of small perennial succulent plants, native to South Africa. The botanical name Anacampseros is an ancient one for herbs supposed to restore lost love...
, Avonia, Calyptrotheca, CerariaCerariaCeraria is a genus of succulent shrubs, native to South Africa and Namibia.-Description:They are very slow-growing, semi-deciduous or deciduous, and succulent perennials with a few branches and many small, ovoidal leaves along the stems. Branches are pale-barked smooth with papery cortex. These...
, CistantheCistantheCistanthe is a plant genus which includes most plants known as pussypaws. These are small, succulent flowering plants which often bear brightly colored flowers, though they vary quite a bit between species in appearance. Some species have flowers that are tightly packed into fluffy-looking...
, CalandriniaCalandriniaCalandrinia is a plant genus that contains many species of purslane, including the redmaids. The genus was named for Jean Louis Calandrini, an 18th century Swiss botanist. It includes around 150 species of annual herbs which bear colorful flowers in shades of red to purple and white...
, Dendroportulaca, Grahamia, LewisiaLewisiaLewisia is a plant genus, named for Meriwether Lewis.Species include: * Lewisia brachycalyx Engelm. ex A.Gray: USA , Mexico * Lewisia cantelovii J.T.Howell: USA...
, Parakeelya (this name is not accepted by the Australian State and National Herbaria), PortulacaPortulacaPortulaca is the type genus of the flowering plant family Portulacaceae, comprising about 40-100 species found in the tropics and warm temperate regions. They are also sometimes known as Rose Moss or more commonly Moss Roses....
, PortulacariaPortulacariaPortulacaria is a plant genus.Species include:*Portulacaria afra Jacq.*Portulacaria armiana E. J. Van Jaarsveld*Portulacaria namaquensis Sond.*Portulacaria pygmaea Pillans...
, Schreiteria, Talinella, TalinumTalinumTalinum is a genus of herbaceous succulent plants in the family Talinaceae whose common names include fameflower and flameflower. Several species bear edible leaves, and Talinum fruticosum is widely grown in tropical regions as a leaf vegetable... - RubiaceaeRubiaceaeThe Rubiaceae is a family of flowering plants, variously called the coffee family, madder family, or bedstraw family. The group contains many commonly known plants, including the economically important coffee , quinine , and gambier , and the horticulturally valuable madder , west indian jasmine ,...
: AnthorrhizaAnthorrhizaAnthorrhiza is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. It is endemic to Papua New Guinea.-Species:...
, AnthospermumAnthospermumAnthospermum is a genus of flowering plants in the Rubiaceae family. It is found in Tropical and Southern Africa, Madagascar and in southwestern Arabian Peninsula.-Species:...
, Hydnophythum, Hydrophylax, MyrmecodiaMyrmecodiaMyrmecodia is a genus of epiphytic myrmecophytes native to Southeast Asia and large islands extending south to Queensland in Australia. Myrmecodia plants grow in tree branches and on trunks. In nature, Myrmecodia tubers often grow hanging downward on bare branches without significant amounts of...
, Myrmephythum, Phylohydrax, Squamellaria - RuscaceaeRuscaceaeNolinoideae is a monocot subfamily of the family Asparagaceae in the APG III system of 2009. It was previously treated as a separate family, Ruscaceae s.l...
: CordylineCordylineCordyline is a genus of about 15 species of woody monocotyledonous flowering plants in family Asparagaceae, subfamily Lomandroideae. The subfamily has previously been treated as a separate family Laxmanniaceae, or Lomandraceae. Other authors have placed the genus in the Agavaceae...
, DracaenaDracaena (plant)Dracaena is a genus of about 40 species of trees and succulent shrubs. In the APG III classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae . It has also formerly been separated into the family Dracaenaceae or placed in the Agavaceae...
, SansevieriaSansevieriaSansevieria is a genus of about 70 species of flowering plants, whose common names include mother-in-law's tongue, devil's tongue, jinn's tongue, bow string hemp, snake plant and snake tongue. It is often included in the genus Dracaena; in the APG III classification system, both genera are placed... - SapindaceaeSapindaceaeSapindaceae, also known as the soapberry family, is a family of flowering plants in the order Sapindales. There are about 140-150 genera with 1400-2000 species, including maple, horse chestnut and lychee....
: ErythrophysaErythrophysaErythrophysa is a genus of plant in family Sapindaceae. It contains the following species :* Erythrophysa alata, Hutch.* Erythrophysa belini* Erythrophysa sakalava, Capuron... - SaxifragaceaeSaxifragaceaeSaxifragaceae is a plant family with about 460 known species in 36 genera. In Europe there are 12 genera.The flowers are hermaphroditic and actinomorphic...
- SterculiaceaeSterculiaceaeSterculiaceae is a botanical name for a group of flowering plants at the rank of family, which is now considered obsolete. As is true for any botanical name, the circumscription, status and placement of the taxon has varied with taxonomic point of view...
: BrachychitonBrachychitonBrachychiton is a genus of 31 species of trees and large shrubs, native to Australia , and New Guinea . Fossils from New South Wales and New Zealand are estimated to be 50 million years old, corresponding to the Tertiary.They grow to 4 – 30m tall, and some are dry-season deciduous...
, SterculiaSterculiaSterculia is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It was previously placed in the now obsolete Sterculiaceae. Members of the genus are colloquially known as tropical chestnuts... - UrticaceaeUrticaceaeUrticaceae, or the nettle family, is a family of flowering plants. The family name comes from the genus Urtica . Urticaceae includes a number of well-known and useful plants, including the aforementioned nettles, Ramie , māmaki , and ajlai .The family includes approximately 2600 species, grouped...
: LaporteaLaporteaLaportea is a genus of plants in the family Urticaceae, named after French naturalist François Louis de la Porte, comte de Castelnau.They are herbaceous, either annual or perennial. Like many plants of the Urticaceae, they have stinging hairs, and have stinging and non-stinging hairs on the same...
, Obetia, PileaPileaPilea with 600–715 species is the largest genus in the plant family Urticaceae and one of the larger genera in the Urticales and eudicot rosids....
, PouzolziaPouzolziaPouzolzia is a genus of flowering plants in the nettle family. There are about 35 species distributed throughout the tropical world. Most are shrubs, and some are herbs. The genus was named for the plant collector P. C. M...
, Sarcopilea - ViscaceaeViscaceaeViscaceae is a family of flowering plants. In past decades, several systems of plant taxonomy recognized this family, notably the 1981 Cronquist system...
: ViscumViscumViscum is a genus of about 70-100 species of mistletoes, native to temperate and tropical regions of Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Traditionally, the genus has been placed in its own family Viscaceae, but recent genetic research by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group shows this family to be... - VitaceaeVitaceaeVitaceae are a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants including the grapevine and Virginia creeper. The family name is derived from the genus Vitis...
: CissusCissusCissus is a genus of approximately 350 species of woody vines in the grape family . They have a cosmopolitan distribution, though the majority are to be found in the tropics. In Tamil they are known as pirandai .-Medicinal:...
, CyphostemmaCyphostemmaCyphostemma is a flowering plant genus belonging to the family Vitaceae. These species are caudiciform and used to belong to the genus Cissus... - XanthorrhoeaceaeXanthorrhoeaceaeXanthorrhoeaceae is the botanical name of a family of flowering plants in the order Asparagales. Such a family has been recognized by most taxonomists, but the circumscription of the family has varied wildly....
: XanthorrhoeaXanthorrhoeaXanthorrhoea is a genus of flowering plants native to Australia and a member of family Xanthorrhoeaceae, being the only member of subfamily Xanthorrhoeoideae. The Xanthorrhoeaceae are monocots, part of order Asparagales. There are 28 species and five subspecies of Xanthorrhoea.-Description:All are... - ZygophyllaceaeZygophyllaceaeThe Zygophyllaceae is a family of flowering plants that contains the bean-caper and caltrop. It includes around 285 species in 22 genera.In the APG III system of classification, the families Zygophyllaceae and Krameriaceae compose the order Zygophyllales...
: AugeaAugeaAugea is a commune in the Jura department in Franche-Comté in eastern France.-References:*...
, Seetzenia, ZygophyllumZygophyllumZygophyllum is the type genus of the flowering plant family Zygophyllaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek words ζυγόν , meaning "yoke," and φυλλον , meaning "leaf." It refers to the leaves, each of which have two leaflets...
- Oxalidaceae
- (succulent geophytes) Eulophia
For some families, most members are succulent; for example the Cactaceae
Cactus
A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines...
, Agavaceae
Agavaceae
Agavoideae is a subfamily of monocot flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, order Asparagales. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Agavaceae. The group includes many well-known desert and dry zone types such as the agave, yucca, and Joshua tree...
, Aizoaceae
Aizoaceae
The Family Aizoaceae or Ficoidaceae is a taxon of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1900 species. They are commonly known as stone plants or carpet weeds. Species that resemble stones or pebbles are sometimes called mesembs...
, and Crassulaceae
Crassulaceae
Crassulaceae, or the orpine family, are a family of dicotyledons. They store water in their succulent leaves. They are found worldwide, but mostly occur in the Northern Hemisphere and southern Africa, typically in dry and/or cold areas where water may be scarce...
.
The table below shows the number of succulent species found in some families:
| Family | Succulent # | Modified parts | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agavaceae Agavaceae Agavoideae is a subfamily of monocot flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, order Asparagales. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Agavaceae. The group includes many well-known desert and dry zone types such as the agave, yucca, and Joshua tree... |
300 | Leaf | North and Central America |
| Cactaceae Cactus A cactus is a member of the plant family Cactaceae. Their distinctive appearance is a result of adaptations to conserve water in dry and/or hot environments. In most species, the stem has evolved to become photosynthetic and succulent, while the leaves have evolved into spines... |
1600 | Stem (root, leaf) | The Americas |
| Crassulaceae Crassulaceae Crassulaceae, or the orpine family, are a family of dicotyledons. They store water in their succulent leaves. They are found worldwide, but mostly occur in the Northern Hemisphere and southern Africa, typically in dry and/or cold areas where water may be scarce... |
1300 | Leaf (root) | Worldwide |
| Aizoaceae Aizoaceae The Family Aizoaceae or Ficoidaceae is a taxon of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1900 species. They are commonly known as stone plants or carpet weeds. Species that resemble stones or pebbles are sometimes called mesembs... |
2000 | Leaf | Southern Africa, Australia |
| Apocynaceae Apocynaceae The Apocynaceae or dogbane family is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, and lianas.Many species are tall trees found in tropical rainforests, and most are from the tropics and subtropics, but some grow in tropical dry, xeric environments. There are also perennial herbs... |
500 | Stem | Africa, Arabia, India, Australia |
| Didiereaceae Didiereaceae Didiereaceae is a small family of just four genera and 11 species of flowering plants endemic to south and southwest Madagascar, where they form an important component of the Madagascar spiny forests.-Description:... |
11 | Stem | Madagascar (endemic Endemic (ecology) Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the... ) |
| Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae Euphorbiaceae, the Spurge family are a large family of flowering plants with 300 genera and around 7,500 species. Most are herbs, but some, especially in the tropics, are also shrubs or trees. Some are succulent and resemble cacti.... |
> 1000 | Stem and/or leaf and/or root | Australia, Africa, Madagascar, Asia, the Americas, Europe |
| Asphodelaceae Asphodelaceae Asphodeloideae is a subfamily of the monocot family Xanthorrhoeaceae in the order Asparagales. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Asphodelaceae. The subfamily name is derived from the generic name of the type genus, Asphodelus... |
500 | Leaf | Africa, Madagascar, Australia |
| Portulacaceae Portulacaceae Portulacaceae are a family of flowering plants, comprising about 20 genera with about 500 species, ranging from herbaceous plants to shrubs. The family has been recognised by most taxonomists, and is also known as the purslane family; it has a cosmopolitan distribution, with the highest diversity... |
? | Leaf and stem | The Americas, Australia, Africa |