botany Botany, also called plant science, is the branch of natural science and biology studying plants, especially Plant anatomy, their anatomy, Plant taxonomy, taxonomy, and Plant ecology, ecology. A botanist or plant scientist is a scientist who s ...

, succulent plants, also known as succulents, are

plant Plants are the eukaryotes that form the Kingdom (biology), kingdom Plantae; they are predominantly Photosynthesis, photosynthetic. This means that they obtain their energy from sunlight, using chloroplasts derived from endosymbiosis with c ...

s with parts that are thickened, fleshy, and engorged, usually to retain water in

arid Aridity is the condition of geographical regions which make up approximately 43% of total global available land area, characterized by low annual precipitation, increased temperatures, and limited water availability.Perez-Aguilar, L. Y., Plata ...

climates or

soil Soil, also commonly referred to as earth, is a mixture of organic matter, minerals, gases, water, and organisms that together support the life of plants and soil organisms. Some scientific definitions distinguish dirt from ''soil'' by re ...

conditions. The word ''succulent'' comes from the Latin word ''sucus'', meaning "juice" or "sap". Succulents may store water in various structures, such as

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

and stems. The water content of some succulent organs can get up to 90–95%, such as '' Glottiphyllum semicyllindricum'' and ''

Mesembryanthemum ''Mesembryanthemum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to southern Africa. As with many members of that family, it is characterized by long-lasting flower heads. Flowers of ''Mesembryanthemum'' protect their game ...

barkleyii''. Some definitions also include

root In vascular plants, the roots are the plant organ, organs of a plant that are modified to provide anchorage for the plant and take in water and nutrients into the plant body, which allows plants to grow taller and faster. They are most often bel ...

s, thus geophytes that survive unfavorable periods by dying back to underground

storage organ A storage organ is a part of a plant specifically modified for storage of energy (generally in the form of carbohydrates) or water. Storage organs often grow underground, where they are better protected from attack by herbivores. Plants that have ...

s (caudex) may be regarded as succulents. The habitats of these water-preserving plants are often in areas with high temperatures and low rainfall, such as

desert A desert is a landscape where little precipitation occurs and, consequently, living conditions create unique biomes and ecosystems. The lack of vegetation exposes the unprotected surface of the ground to denudation. About one-third of the la ...

s, but succulents may be found even in alpine ecosystems growing in rocky or sandy soil. Succulents are characterized by their ability to thrive on limited water sources, such as mist and dew, which makes them equipped to survive in

ecosystem An ecosystem (or ecological system) is a system formed by Organism, organisms in interaction with their Biophysical environment, environment. The Biotic material, biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and en ...

s that contain scarce water sources. Succulents are not a taxonomic category, since the term describes only the attributes of a particular species; some species in a genus such as ''

Euphorbia ''Euphorbia'' is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants, commonly called spurge, in the family (biology), family Euphorbiaceae. Euphorbias range from tiny annual plants to large and long-lived trees, with perhaps the tallest being ''Eu ...

'', or family such as ''

Asphodelaceae Asphodelaceae is a family of flowering plants in the order Asparagales. Such a family has been recognized by most taxonomists, but the circumscription has varied widely. In its current circumscription in the APG IV system, it includes about 4 ...

'' may be succulent, whereas others are less so or not at all. Multiple plant families contain both succulent and non-succulent species. In some families, such as

Aizoaceae The Aizoaceae (), or fig-marigold family, is a large family of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1,800 species. Several genera are commonly known as 'ice plants' or 'carpet weeds'. The Aizoaceae are also referred to a ...

Cactaceae A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...

, and

Crassulaceae The Crassulaceae (, from Latin ''crassus'', thick), also known as the crassulas, the stonecrops or the orpine family, are a diverse Family (biology), family of dicotyledon angiosperms primarily characterized by succulent leaves and a form of phot ...

, most species are succulents. In

horticultural Horticulture (from ) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and mo ...

use, the term is sometimes used in a way that excludes plants that botanists would regard as succulents, such as

cacti A cactus (: cacti, cactuses, or less commonly, cactus) is a member of the plant family Cactaceae (), a family of the order Caryophyllales comprising about 127 genera with some 1,750 known species. The word ''cactus'' derives, through Latin, ...

. Succulents are often grown as

ornamental plant Ornamental plants or ''garden plants'' are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars th ...

s because of their striking and unusual appearance, as well as their ability to thrive with relatively minimal care.

Definition

By definition, succulent plants are

drought A drought is a period of drier-than-normal conditions.Douville, H., K. Raghavan, J. Renwick, R.P. Allan, P.A. Arias, M. Barlow, R. Cerezo-Mota, A. Cherchi, T.Y. Gan, J. Gergis, D. Jiang, A. Khan, W. Pokam Mba, D. Rosenfeld, J. Tierney, ...

-resistant plants in which the leaves, stem, or roots have become more than usually fleshy by the development of water-storing tissue. Other sources exclude roots as in the definition "a plant with thick, fleshy and swollen stems and/or leaves, adapted to dry environments". The difference affects the relationship between succulents and "

geophytes A storage organ is a part of a plant specifically modified for storage of energy (generally in the form of carbohydrates) or water. Storage organs often grow underground, where they are better protected from attack by herbivores. Plants that have ...

"–plants that survive unfavorable seasons as a resting bud on an underground organ. The underground organs, such as

bulb In botany, a bulb is a short underground stem with fleshy leaves or leaf basesBell, A.D. 1997. ''Plant form: an illustrated guide to flowering plant morphology''. Oxford University Press, Oxford, U.K. that function as food storage organs duri ...

corm Corm, bulbo-tuber, or bulbotuber is a short, vertical, swollen, underground plant stem that serves as a storage organ that some plants use to survive winter or other adverse conditions such as summer drought and heat (perennation). The word ''c ...

s, and

tuber Tubers are a type of enlarged structure that plants use as storage organs for nutrients, derived from stems or roots. Tubers help plants perennate (survive winter or dry months), provide energy and nutrients, and are a means of asexual reproduc ...

s, are often fleshy with water-storing tissues. Thus, if roots are included in the definition, many

would be classed as succulents. Plants adapted to living in dry environments such as succulents, are termed ''

xerophyte A xerophyte () is a species of plant that has adaptations to survive in an environment with little liquid water. Examples of xerophytes include cacti, pineapple and some gymnosperm plants. The morphology and physiology of xerophytes are adapted to ...

s''. Not all xerophytes are succulents, since there are other ways of adapting to a shortage of water, e.g., by developing small leaves which may roll up or having leathery rather than succulent leaves. Nor are all succulents xerophytes, as plants such as ''

Crassula helmsii ''Crassula helmsii'', known as swamp stonecrop or New Zealand pigmyweed, is an aquatic or semiterrestrial species of succulent plant in the family Crassulaceae. Originally found in Australia and New Zealand, it has been introduced around the wor ...

'' are both succulent and aquatic. Succulent in San Francisco

Some who grow succulents as a hobby may use the term in a different way from botanists. In

use, the term ''succulent'' regularly excludes cacti. For example, Jacobsen's three volume ''Handbook of Succulent Plants'' does not include cacti. Many books covering the cultivation of these plants include "cacti (cactus) and succulents" as the title or part of the title. In botanical terminology, cacti are succulents, but not the reverse, as many succulent plants are not cacti. Cacti form a

monophyletic In biological cladistics for the classification of organisms, monophyly is the condition of a taxonomic grouping being a clade – that is, a grouping of organisms which meets these criteria: # the grouping contains its own most recent co ...

group and apart from one species are native only to the

New World The term "New World" is used to describe the majority of lands of Earth's Western Hemisphere, particularly the Americas, and sometimes Oceania."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: ...

, the

Americas The Americas, sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America and South America.''Webster's New World College Dictionary'', 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. When viewed as a sing ...

, but through

parallel evolution Parallel evolution is the similar development of a trait in distinct species that are not closely related, but share a similar original trait in response to similar evolutionary pressure.Zhang, J. and Kumar, S. 1997Detection of convergent and pa ...

similar looking plants in completely different families like the

Apocynaceae Apocynaceae (, from '' Apocynum'', Greek for "dog-away") is a family of flowering plants that includes trees, shrubs, herbs, stem succulents, and vines, commonly known as the dogbane family, because some taxa were used as dog poison. Notable mem ...

evolved in the Old World. A further difficulty for general identification is that plant families are neither ''succulent'' nor ''non-succulent'' and can contain both. In many genera and families, there is a continuous gradation from plants with thin leaves and normal stems to those with very clearly thickened and fleshy leaves or stems. The ''succulent'' characteristic becomes meaningless for dividing plants into genera and families. Different sources may classify the same species differently. Species with intermediate characteristics such as somewhat fleshy leaves or stems may be described as ''semi-succulent''. Horticulturists often follow commercial conventions and may exclude other groups of plants such as

bromeliads The Bromeliaceae (the bromeliads) are a family of monocot flowering plants of about 80 genera and 3700 known species, native mainly to the tropical Americas, with several species found in the American subtropics and one in tropical west Africa, ...

, that scientifically are considered succulents. A practical horticultural definition has become "a succulent plant is any desert plant that a succulent plant collector wishes to grow", without any consideration of scientific classifications. Commercial presentations of "succulent" plants will present those that customers commonly identify as such. Plants offered commercially then as "succulents", such as hen and chicks, will less often include geophytes, in which the swollen storage organ is wholly underground, but will include plants with a

caudex A caudex (: caudices) of a plant is a stem, but the term is also used to mean a rootstock and particularly a basal stem structure from which new growth arises.pages 456 and 695 In the strict sense of the term, meaning a stem, "caudex" is most ...

, that is a swollen above-ground organ at soil level, formed from a stem, a root, or both.

Appearance

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 metabolism Crassulacean acid metabolism, also known as CAM photosynthesis, is a carbon fixation pathway that evolved in some plants as an adaptation to arid conditions that allows a plant to photosynthesize during the day, but only exchange gases at night. ...

(CAM) to minimize water loss * absent, reduced, or cylindrical-to-spherical leaves * reduction in the number of

stoma In botany, a stoma (: stomata, from Greek language, Greek ''στόμα'', "mouth"), also called a stomate (: stomates), is a pore found in the Epidermis (botany), epidermis of leaves, stems, and other organs, that controls the rate of gas exc ...

ta * stems as the main site of

photosynthesis Photosynthesis ( ) is a system of biological processes by which photosynthetic organisms, such as most plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, convert light energy, typically from sunlight, into the chemical energy necessary to fuel their metabo ...

, 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 may create 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

dew Dew is water in the form of droplets that appears on thin, exposed objects in the morning or evening due to condensation. As the exposed surface cools by thermal radiation, radiating its heat, atmospheric moisture condenses at a rate grea ...

* ability to remain plump and full of water even with high internal temperatures (e.g., ) * very impervious outer

cuticle A cuticle (), or cuticula, is any of a variety of tough but flexible, non-mineral outer coverings of an organism, or parts of an organism, that provide protection. Various types of "cuticle" are non- homologous, differing in their origin, structu ...

(skin) * fast wound sealing and healing * mucilaginous substances, which retain water abundantly

Habitat

Other than in

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean (also known as the Antarctic Ocean), it contains the geographic South Pole. ...

, succulents can be found within each continent. According to the

World Wildlife Fund The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) is a Swiss-based international non-governmental organization founded in 1961 that works in the field of wilderness preservation and the reduction of human impact on the environment. It was formerly named the ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

is home to around a third of all succulent species, most residing in the

succulent Karoo The Succulent Karoo is an terrestrial ecoregion, ecoregion defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature to include regions of deserts and xeric shrublands, desert in South Africa and Namibia, and a biodiversity hotspot. The geographic area chosen ...

biome. While it is often thought that most succulents come from dry areas such as

steppe In physical geography, a steppe () is an ecoregion characterized by grassland plains without closed forests except near rivers and lakes. Steppe biomes may include: * the montane grasslands and shrublands biome * the tropical and subtropica ...

semi-desert A semi-arid climate, semi-desert climate, or steppe climate is a dry climate sub-type. It is located on regions that receive precipitation below potential evapotranspiration, but not as low as a desert climate. There are different kinds of sem ...

, and

, the world's driest areas do not make for proper succulent habitats, mainly due to the difficulty such low growing plants or seedlings would have to thrive in environments where they could easily be covered by sand. Australia, the world's driest inhabited continent, hosts very few native succulents due to the frequent and prolonged droughts. Even Africa, the continent with the most native succulents, does not host many of the plants in its most dry regions. While succulents are unable to grow in these harshest of conditions, they are able to grow in conditions that are uninhabitable by other plants. In fact, many succulents are able to thrive in dry conditions, and some are able to last up to two years without water depending on their surroundings and adaptations. Occasionally, succulents may occur as

epiphyte An epiphyte is a plant or plant-like organism that grows on the surface of another plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphyt ...

s, growing on other plants with limited or no contact with the ground, and being dependent on their ability to store water and gaining nutrients by other means; it is seen in ''

Tillandsia ''Tillandsia'' is a genus of around 650 species of evergreen, perennial plant, perennial flowering plants in the family (biology), family Bromeliaceae, native to the forests, mountains and deserts of the Neotropical realm, Neotropics, from northe ...

'' and '' Rhipsalis''. Succulents also occur as inhabitants of

sea A sea is a large body of salt water. There are particular seas and the sea. The sea commonly refers to the ocean, the interconnected body of seawaters that spans most of Earth. Particular seas are either marginal seas, second-order section ...

coast A coast (coastline, shoreline, seashore) is the land next to the sea or the line that forms the boundary between the land and the ocean or a lake. Coasts are influenced by the topography of the surrounding landscape and by aquatic erosion, su ...

s and

dry lake A dry lake bed, also known as a playa (), is a basin or depression that formerly contained a standing surface water body, which disappears when evaporation processes exceed recharge. If the floor of a dry lake is covered by deposits of alkalin ...

s, which are exposed to high levels of dissolved minerals that are deadly to many other plant species. California is home to close to hundred succulent species that are native to the state, many of them live in coastal environments. Potted succulents are able to grow in most indoor environments with minimal care.

Conservation

There is a thriving illegal trade in cacti and succulents. In South Africa, several species of succulent have been threatened with extinction due to

poaching Poaching is the illegal hunting or capturing of wild animals, usually associated with land use rights. Poaching was once performed by impoverished peasants for subsistence purposes and to supplement meager diets. It was set against the huntin ...

from the wild for the

black market A black market is a Secrecy, clandestine Market (economics), market or series of transactions that has some aspect of illegality, or is not compliant with an institutional set of rules. If the rule defines the set of goods and services who ...

and mining related activities. The plants are mainly sold to collectors in Asian countries, where there has been a high demand for them. Since 1974, it is illegal to be in possession of protected succulents such as the '' Conophytum'' without authorisation in the

Western Cape The Western Cape ( ; , ) is a provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa, situated on the south-western coast of the country. It is the List of South African provinces by area, fourth largest of the nine provinces with an area of , an ...

and

Northern Cape The Northern Cape ( ; ; ) is the largest and most sparsely populated Provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley, South Africa, Kimberley. It includes ...

, the two South African provinces where they grow.

Families and genera

There are approximately sixty different plant families that contain succulents. Plant orders, families, and genera in which succulent species occur are listed below. Order

Alismatales The Alismatales (alismatids) are an order of flowering plants including about 4,500 species. Plants assigned to this order are mostly tropical or aquatic. Some grow in fresh water, some in marine habitats. Perhaps the most important food cro ...

Araceae The Araceae 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 ...

: ''

Zamioculcas ''Zamioculcas'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae, containing the single species ''Zamioculcas zamiifolia.'' It is a tropical Herbaceous plant, herbaceous perennial plant, and is native to eastern Africa, including Kenya, KwaZu ...

'', '' Synandrospadix'', '' Philodendron martianum'', ''

Dracontium ''Dracontium'' is a genus of flowering plants similar to those of '' Amorphophallus''. Unlike ''Amorphophallus'' which is found in the Old World, this genus has a New World distribution and is native to South America, Central America, southern Me ...

'' Order

Apiales The Apiales are an order of flowering plants, included in the asterid group of dicotyledons. Well-known members of Apiales include carrots, celery, coriander, parsley, parsnips, poison hemlock, ginseng, ivies, and pittosporums. Apiales consi ...

Apiaceae Apiaceae () or Umbelliferae is a family of mostly aromatic flowering plants named after the type genus ''Apium,'' and commonly known as the celery, carrot, or parsley family, or simply as umbellifers. It is the 16th-largest family of flowering p ...

: '' Azorella,

Crithmum ''Crithmum'' is a monospecific genus of flowering plant in the carrot family, Apiaceae. The sole species, ''Crithmum maritimum'', is commonly known as rock samphire, sea fennel or samphire. It is found in parts of the Old World and is edib ...

'' *

Araliaceae The Araliaceae are a family of flowering plants composed of about 43 genera and around 1500 species consisting of primarily woody plants and some herbaceous plants commonly called the ginseng family. The morphology of Araliaceae varies widely ...

: '' Cussonia'' Order

Arecales Arecales is an order of flowering plants. The order has been widely named as such only for the past few decades; until then, the accepted name for the order including these plants was Principes. The order includes palms and relatives. Taxonomy ...

(also called Principes) *

Arecaceae The Arecaceae () is a family (biology), family of perennial plant, perennial, flowering plants in the Monocotyledon, monocot order Arecales. Their growth form can be climbing palm, climbers, shrubs, tree-like and stemless plants, all commonly k ...

(also called Palmae) '' Jubaea'' Order

Asparagales Asparagales (asparagoid lilies) are a diverse order of flowering plants in the monocots. Under the APG IV system of flowering plant classification, Asparagales are the largest order of monocots with 14 families, 1,122 genera, and about 36,00 ...

Amaryllidaceae The Amaryllidaceae are a family of herbaceous, mainly perennial and bulbous (rarely rhizomatous) flowering plants in the monocot order Asparagales. The family takes its name from the genus '' Amaryllis'' and is commonly known as the amaryl ...

(geophytes): ''

Amaryllis ''Amaryllis'' () is the only genus in the subtribe Amaryllidinae (tribe Amaryllideae). It is a small genus of flowering bulbs, with two species. The better known of the two, '' Amaryllis belladonna'', is a native of the Western Cape region of ...

'', '' Boophone'', '' Clivia,'' '' Crinum,

Cryptostephanus ''Cryptostephanus'' is a genus of African plants in the family Amaryllidaceae, native to Kenya, Tanzania, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Its closest relative is ''Clivia'', with which it shares some characters, including thick, fleshy ...

'', '' Cyrtanthus'', ''

Haemanthus ''Haemanthus'' is a Southern African genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Amaryllidoideae. Members of the genus are known as blood lily and paintbrush lily. There are some 22 known species, native ...

'', '' Rauhia'', '' Scadoxus'', '' Stenomesson'' *

Asparagaceae Asparagaceae (), known as the asparagus family, is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots. The family name is based on the edible garden asparagus, '' Asparagus officinalis''. This family includes both ...

Agavoideae 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 agaves ...

: ''

Agave ''Agave'' (; ; ) is a genus of monocots native to the arid regions of the Americas. The genus is primarily known for its succulent and xerophytic species that typically form large Rosette (botany), rosettes of strong, fleshy leaves. Many plan ...

'', ''

Beschorneria Beschorneria is a genus of succulent plants belonging to the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae, native to semi-arid areas of Mexico and Central America. They are generally large evergreen perennials forming clumps of grey-green leaves, ...

'', ''

Furcraea ''Furcraea'' is a genus of succulent plants belonging to the family (biology), family Asparagaceae, native to tropical regions of Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and northern South America. Some species are also naturalized in parts of Af ...

'', ''

Hesperaloe ''Hesperaloe'' (false yucca) 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 rac ...

'', ''

Hesperoyucca ''Hesperoyucca'' is a small genus of two recognized species of flowering plants closely related to, and recently split from, ''Yucca'', which is in the century plant subfamily within the asparagus family. Description ''Hesperoyucca'' is distin ...

'', ''

Manfreda ''Manfreda'' was a genus of flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Along with '' Polianthes'', members are commonly called tuberoses. The generic name honours 14th-century Italian writer Manfredus de Monte Imperiale. A ...

, Polianthes,'' ''

Yucca ''Yucca'' ( , YUCK-uh) is both the scientific name and common name for a genus native to North America from Panama to southern Canada. It contains 50 accepted species. In addition to yucca, they are also known as Adam's needle or Spanish-bayon ...

'' **

Lomandroideae Lomandroideae is a subfamily of monocot flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, order Asparagales, according to the APG III system of 2009. The subfamily name is derived from the generic name of the type genus, '' Lomandra''. The group has ...

: ''

Cordyline ''Cordyline'' is a genus of about 24 species of woody monocotyledonous flowering plants in family (biology), family Asparagaceae, subfamily Lomandroideae. The subfamily has previously been treated as a separate family Laxmanniaceae, or Lomandrace ...

'' **

Nolinoideae Nolinoideae is a monocot subfamily of the family Asparagaceae in the APG III system of 2009. It used to be treated as a separate family, Ruscaceae s.l. The family name is derived from the generic name of the type genus, '' Nolina''. The subfam ...

: ''

Beaucarnea ''Beaucarnea'' is a genus of flowering plants native plant, native to Mexico and Central America. In the APG III system, APG III classification system, it is placed in the family (biology), family Asparagaceae, subfamily Nolinoideae (formerly the ...

'', '' Calibanus'', ''

Dasylirion ''Dasylirion'' is a genus of succulent, rosette-forming plants in the Asparagaceae family (where it is included in the Nolinoideae subfamily). Most species are native to mountainous arid regions of Mexico, with some species also native to the Sou ...

'', '' Dracaena'', ''

Nolina ''Nolina'' is a genus of tropical xerophytic flowering plants belonging to the family Asparagaceae. The native distribution of the genus includes most of Mexico and the southern regions of the United States.Hochstätter, F. (2010). The genus ''N ...

'' ** Scilloideae (Hyacinthaceae): '' Albuca'', ''

Bowiea ''Bowiea'', commonly known as climbing-onion, is a genus of bulbous, perennial, succulent plants which thrive in dry and desert regions of eastern and southern Africa, ranging from Uganda to South Africa. It is native to a region stretching from ...

'', ''

Daubenya ''Daubenya'' is a genus of bulbous flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae (also treated as the family Hyacinthaceae).Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards),Asparagales: Scilloideae, ''Angiosperm Phylogeny Website'', retrieved 20 ...

'', ''

Drimia ''Drimia'' is a genus of African, south European and south Asian flowering plants. In the APG IV classification system, it is placed in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae (formerly the family Hyacinthaceae). When broadly circumscrib ...

'', ''

Eucomis ''Eucomis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, native to southern Africa. Most species of this genus are commonly referred to as pineapple flowers or pineapple lilies. They are bulb ...

'', ''

Lachenalia ''Lachenalia'' is a genus of bulbous perennial plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae, which are usually found in Namibia and South Africa. Most of them have a dormancy period, but new roots will always grow every year. ''Lache ...

'', ''

Ledebouria ''Ledebouria'' 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 enthusias ...

'', ''

Massonia ''Massonia'' is a genus (biology), genus of bulbous perennial plant, perennial flowering plants in the family (biology), family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae (also treated as the family Hyacinthaceae). It is native to southern Africa, and i ...

'', ''

Muscari ''Muscari'' is a genus (biology), genus of perennial bulbous plants native to Eurasia that produce spikes of dense, most commonly blue, urn-shaped flowers resembling bunches of grapes in the spring. The common name for the genus is grape hyacint ...

'', ''

Ornithogalum ''Ornithogalum'' is a genus of perennial plants mostly native to southern Europe and southern Africa belonging to the family Asparagaceae. Some species are native to other areas such as the Caucasus. Some species are classified as noxious invas ...

'', ''

Scilla ''Scilla'' () is a genus of about 30 to 80 species of bulb-forming perennial plant, perennial herbaceous plants in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae. Sometimes called the squills in English, they are native to woodlands, subalpine ...

'', '' Urginea,'' ''

Veltheimia ''Veltheimia'' is a genus of perennial plants native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Scilloideae Scilloideae (named after the genus ''Scilla'', "squill") is a subfamily of bulbous plants within the f ...

'' *

Doryanthaceae ''Doryanthes'' is the sole genus in the flowering plant Family (biology), family Doryanthaceae. The genus consists of two species, ''Doryanthes excelsa, D. excelsa'' (gymea lily) and ''Doryanthes palmeri, D. palmeri'' (giant spear lily), both en ...

: '' Doryanthes'' *

Orchidaceae Orchids are plants that belong to the family (biology), family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan distribution, cosmopolitan plants that ...

: ''

Acampe ''Acampe'', abbreviated as Acp in horticultural trade, is a genus of monopodial, epiphytic vandaceous species of orchids, distributed from tropical Asia from India, eastwards to China and southwards to Malaysia, and the Philippines as well as f ...

'', '' Aerangis'', '' Ansellia'', ''

Bolusiella ''Bolusiella'' is a genus of flowering plants from the orchid family, Orchidaceae. It consists of 4 currently recognized species that are endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and the Comoro Islands. ''Bolusiella'' are often very small, no more than a f ...

'', ''

Bulbophyllum ''Bulbophyllum'' is a genus of mostly Epiphyte, epiphytic and Lithophyte, lithophytic orchids in the Family (biology), family Orchidaceae. It is the largest genus in the orchid family and one of the List of the largest genera of flowering plants, ...

'', '' Cirrhopetalum,'' ''

Calanthe ''Calanthe'', commonly known as Christmas orchids, is a genus of about 220 species of orchids in the family Orchidaceae. They are evergreen or deciduous terrestrial plants with thick roots, small oval pseudobulbs, large corrugated leaves and upr ...

'', '' Cyrtorchis'', '' Dendrobium cucumerinum'', ''

Eulophia ''Eulophia'', commonly known as corduroy orchids, is a genus of about two hundred species of flowering plants in the orchid family, Orchidaceae. Most ''Eulophia'' orchids are terrestrial but some are deciduous while others are evergreen. They ei ...

'', '' Liparis'', '' Oberonia'', '' Oeceoclades'', ''

Polystachya ''Polystachya'', abbreviated Pol in horticultural trade, and commonly known as yellowspike orchid, is a flowering plant genus in the orchid family (Orchidaceae). This rather distinctive genus was described by William Jackson Hooker in 1824 and is ...

'', '' Tridactyle'', ''

Vanilla Vanilla is a spice derived from orchids of the genus ''Vanilla (genus), Vanilla'', primarily obtained from pods of the flat-leaved vanilla (''Vanilla planifolia, V. planifolia''). ''Vanilla'' is not Autogamy, autogamous, so pollination ...

'' *

** subfamily

Asphodeloideae Asphodeloideae is a subfamily of the monocot family Asphodelaceae in the order Asparagales. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Asphodelaceae ''sensu stricto''. The family Asphodelaceae has now been proposed to be a nomen conser ...

: ''

Aloe ''Aloe'' (; also written ''Aloë'') is a genus containing over 650 species of flowering plant, flowering succulent plant, succulent plants.WFO (2022): Aloe L. Published on the Internet;http://www.worldfloraonline.org/taxon/wfo-4000001341. Acc ...

'' (succulents and succulent geophytes), ''

Astroloba ''Astroloba'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family (biology), family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae,Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards)"Asphodeloideae" ''Angiosperm Phylogeny Website'', retrieved 2016-06-10 native to the Cape Province ...

'', ''

Tulista ''Tulista'' is a small genus of succulent plants endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. They were formerly included within the genus ''Haworthia''. Characteristics The genus is characterised by a large size (relative to other haworthias) ...

'', '' × Astrolista'', '' Bulbine'' (succulent geophytes, succulents, and geophytes), ''

Bulbinella ''Bulbinella'' is a genus of plants in the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Asphodeloideae,Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards)"Asphodeloideae" ''Angiosperm Phylogeny Website''. Retrieved 2016-06-10. first described as a genus in 1843. Many species are en ...

'' (geophyte), '' Chortolirion'' (succulent geophytes), ''

Gasteria ''Gasteria'' is a genus of succulent plants, native to South Africa and the far south-west corner of Namibia. Naming The genus is named for its stomach-shaped flowers (''"gaster"'' is Greek for "stomach") that result from the swollen base on the ...

'', ''

Gonialoe ''Gonialoe'' (the partridge aloes) is a small genus of three succulent plant species—''Gonialoe dinteri, Gonialoe sladeniana and Gonialoe variegata''—Endemism, endemic to coastal South Africa, Namibia and Angola. They were formerly included w ...

'', ''

Haworthia ''Haworthia'' is a large genus of small succulent plants endemic to Southern Africa (Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and South Africa). Like aloes and gasteria they are members of the Family (biology), subfamily Asphodeloideae and they ...

'', '' Trachyandra'' (succulent geophytes and succulents), ** subfamily Xanothorrhoeoidae: ''

Xanthorrhoea ''Xanthorrhoea'' () is a genus of about 30 species of Succulent plant, succulent flowering plants in the family Asphodelaceae. They are Endemism, endemic to Australia. Common names for the plants include grasstree, grass gum-tree (for resin-yie ...

'' Order

Asterales Asterales ( ) is an Order (biology), order of dicotyledonous flowering plants that includes the large Family (biology), family Asteraceae (or Compositae) known for composite flowers made of Floret#floret, florets, and ten families related to th ...

Asteraceae Asteraceae () is a large family (biology), family of flowering plants that consists of over 32,000 known species in over 1,900 genera within the Order (biology), order Asterales. The number of species in Asteraceae is rivaled only by the Orchi ...

: '' Arctotheca'', '' Baeriopsis'', '' Chrysanthemoides'', '' Coulterella'', '' Crassocephalum'', ''

Curio Curio may refer to: Objects *Bric-à-brac, lesser objets d'art for display *Cabinet of curiosities, a room-sized collection or exhibit of curios or curiosities *Collectables *Curio cabinet, a cabinet constructed for the display of curios People * ...

'', '' Delairea'', '' Didelta'', '' Emilia'', ''

Eremothamnus ''Eremothamnus'' is a monotypic genus of shrubs in the family Asteraceae. Its only species is ''Eremothamnus marlothianus''. It is native to the coastal desert of Namibia. It is a small shrub with spiny leaves. Taxonomy and systematics The genus ...

'', '' Gymnodiscus'', ''

Gynura ''Gynura'' is a genus (biology), genus of flowering plants in the daisy family (biology), family Asteraceae native to Asia. The best known species is ''Gynura aurantiaca'', often grown as a house plant. This plant is commonly known as purple pas ...

'', ''Hillardiella'' (geophyte), '' Lopholaena'', '' Monoculus'', '' Nidorella'', ''

Osteospermum ''Osteospermum'' , is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Calenduleae, one of the smaller tribes of the sunflower/daisy family Asteraceae. They are known as the daisybushes or African daisies. Its species have been given several common ...

'', '' Othonna'' (succulents and succulent geophytes), '' Phaneroglossa'', '' Poecilolepis'', ''

Polyachyrus ''Polyachyrus'' is a genus of South American plants in the family Asteraceae.Lagasca y Segura, Mariano. 1811. Amenidades Naturales de las Españas 1(1): 37 Species accepted by the Plants of the World Online Plants of the World Online (POWO) ...

'', '' Pteronia'', ''

Senecio ''Senecio'' is a genus of flowering plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae) that includes ragworts and groundsels. Variously circumscribed taxonomically, the genus ''Senecio'' is one of the largest genera of flowering plants. Description Mo ...

'', '' Solanecio'', '' Tripteris'' *

Campanulaceae The family Campanulaceae (also bellflower family), of the order Asterales, contains nearly 2400 species in 84 genera of herbaceous plants, shrubs, and rarely small trees, often with milky sap. Among them are several familiar garden plants bel ...

: ''

Brighamia The Hawaiian lobelioids are a group of flowering plants in the bellflower family, Campanulaceae, subfamily Lobelioideae, all of which are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. This is the largest plant radiation in the Hawaiian Islands, and indeed t ...

'' Order

Brassicales The Brassicales (or Cruciales) are an order (biology), order of flowering plants, belonging to the malvid group of eudicotyledons under the APG IV system. Well-known members of Brassicales include cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprout, broccoli, ...

Brassicaceae Brassicaceae () or (the older but equally valid) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important Family (biology), family of flowering plants commonly known as the mustards, the crucifers, or the cabbage family. Most are herbaceous pla ...

: '' Heliophila'', ''

Lepidium ''Lepidium'' is a genus of plants in the mustard/cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The genus is widely distributed in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia.Capparidaceae: ''

Maerua ''Maerua'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Capparaceae. It includes 70 species of shrubs and small trees with its centre of diversity in Africa, though some species extend their range as far north as the Levant, and as far east as th ...

'' *

Caricaceae The Caricaceae are a family of flowering plants in the order Brassicales, found primarily in tropical regions of Central and South America and Africa. They are usually short-lived evergreen pachycaul shrubs or small to medium-sized trees growin ...

: ''

Carica ''Carica'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Caricaceae including the papaya (''C. papaya'' syn. ''C. peltata'', ''C. posoposa''), a widely cultivated fruit tree native to the American tropics. The genus was formerly treated as inc ...

'', ''Jacarathia'' *

Moringaceae ''Moringa'' is the sole genus in the plant family Moringaceae. It contains 13 species, which occur in tropical and subtropical regions of Africa and Asia and that range in size from tiny herbs to massive trees. ''Moringa'' species grow quickly ...

: ''

Moringa Moringa may refer to: * ''Moringa'' (genus), a genus of plants * ''Moringa oleifera ''Moringa oleifera'' is a short-lived, fast-growing, drought-resistant tree of the family Moringaceae, native to northern India and used extensively in South ...

'' *

Tiganophytaceae Tiganophytaceae is a family in the plant order Brassicales, consisting of the sole monotypic genus, ''Tiganophyton'', represented by ''Tiganophyton karasense''. The family is endemic to Namibia Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, ...

Tiganophyta karasense Order

Caryophyllales Caryophyllales ( ) is a diverse and heterogeneous order of flowering plants with well-known members including cacti, carnations, beets, quinoa, spinach, amaranths, pigfaces and ice plants, oraches and saltbushes, goosefoots, sundews, Venu ...

: ''

Corbichonia ''Corbichonia'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Lophiocarpaceae. Since 2016 it is treated under monotypic family Corbichoniaceae. Species in the genus are seed-bearing, vascular, succulent In botany, succulent plants, also known ...

'', ''

Gisekia ''Gisekia'' is a genus of flowering plants. It is the only genus in the family Gisekiaceae. The family was recognized in the APG II system (2003) and assigned to the order Caryophyllales in the clade core eudicots. This represents a change from t ...

'', '' Herreanthus'', ''

Limeum ''Limeum'' is a genus of flowering plants. It includes 25 species. The genus ''Limeum'' was traditionally recognized as belonging to the family Molluginaceae, but is now treated as the sole genus in the monotypic family Limeaceae. The family is ...

'', '' Ophthalmophyllum'', '' Saphesia'' ** subfamily Aizooideae: '' Acrosanthes'', '' Aizoanthemum'', ''

Aizoon ''Aizoon'' or ''Aizoön'' is a genus of flowering plants in the iceplant family, Aizoaceae. Description No raphides occur in at least the leaves and stalks of at least 3 species. Distribution Apart from '' A. canariense'', which is native to Ma ...

'', '' Galenia'', ''

Gunniopsis ''Gunniopsis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the iceplant family, Aizoaceae. These plants are found in areas of inland Australia. ''Gunniopis'' comprises 14 species that were once members of the genera ''Aizoon'', ''Gunnia'' and ''Neogunnia' ...

'', '' Plinthus'', '' Tetragonia'' ** subfamily Mesembryanthemoideae (syn. Mesembryanthemaceae): ''Aptenia'' (synonym of ''

''), '' Aridaria'', '' Aspazoma'', ''Brownanthus'' (synonym of ''

''), '' Calamophyllum'', '' Caulipsilon'', '' Conophytum'', '' Dactylopsis'', '' Erepsia'', '' Hameria'', '' Hartmanthus'', ''

Hymenogyne ''Hymenogyne'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Aizoaceae. It is native to South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provi ...

'', '' Marlothistela'', ''

'', '' Phiambolia'', '' Phyllobolus'', '' Prenia'', '' Psilocaulon'', '' Ruschiella'', '' Sarozona'', '' Synaptophyllum'' ** subfamily Ruschioideae: *** tribe Apatesieae: '' Apatesia'', '' Carpanthea'', '' Caryotophora'', '' Conicosia'', ''

'', '' Saphesia'', '' Skiatophytum'' *** tribe Dorotheantheae: '' Aethephyllum'' '' Cleretum'' ''

Dorotheanthus ''Cleretum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. Taxonomy The genus ''Cleretum'' was erected by N. E. Brown, Nicholas Edward Brown in 1925. He published the name in a key, basing ...

'' *** tribe Ruschiae: ''

Acrodon ''Acrodon'' is a genus of Aizoaceae, ice plants from South Africa. It comprises five species, mostly endangered and all restricted to the southern Cape regions of the Western Cape and Eastern Cape Provinces, South Africa. Description Species of ...

'', '' Aloinopsis'', ''

Amphibolia ''Amphibolia'' is a genus of plant in family Aizoaceae The Aizoaceae (), or fig-marigold family, is a large family of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1,800 species. Several genera are commonly known as 'ice plant ...

'', '' Antegibbaeum'', '' Antimima'', '' Arenifera'', '' Argyroderma'', ''

Astridia ''Astridia'' is a genus of plants in the family Aizoaceae The Aizoaceae (), or fig-marigold family, is a large family of dicotyledonous flowering plants containing 135 genera and about 1,800 species. Several genera are commonly known as 'ice pl ...

'', '' Bergeranthus'', '' Bijlia'', '' Braunsia'', '' Brianhuntleya'', ''

Carpobrotus ''Carpobrotus'', commonly known as pigface, ice plant, sour fig, Hottentot fig, and clawberry is a genus of ground-creeping plants with succulent leaves and large daisy-like flowers. The name comes from the Ancient Greek ' "fruit" and ' "edible", ...

'', '' Carruanthus'', '' Cephalophyllum'', ''

Cerochlamys Cerochlamys is a genus of plants in the family Aizoaceae.the Plant List "Cerochlamys" (2010). Version 1. Published on the Internet; http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/search?q=cerochlamys Accessed 22 July They are all succulent plant In botany, ...

'', '' Chasmatophyllum'', '' Cheiridopsis'', '' Circandra'', '' Conophytum'', '' Corpuscularia'', '' Cylindrophyllum'', ''

Delosperma ''Delosperma'' ('delos'=evident, 'sperma'=seed) is a genus of around 170 species of succulent plants, formerly included in ''Mesembryanthemum'' in the family Aizoaceae. It was defined by English botanist N. E. Brown in 1925. The genus is common ...

'', '' Dicrocaulon'', '' Didymaotus'', '' Dinteranthus'', '' Diplosoma'', '' Disphyma'', '' Dracophilus'', '' Drosanthemum'', '' Eberlanzia'', '' Ebracteola'', '' Enarganthe'', '' Erepsia'', '' Esterhuysenia'', '' Faucaria'', ''

Fenestraria ''Fenestraria'' (known as babies' toes) is a (possibly monotypic) genus of succulent plants in the family Aizoaceae, native to the Namaqualand in Namibia. Description The only species currently recognised in this genus is ''Fenestraria rh ...

'', '' Frithia'', ''

Gibbaeum ''Gibbaeum'' is a genus of about 21 species of small succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the Little Karoo region of South Africa. The name "Gibbaeum" comes from the Latin ''gibbosus'' (hunchback) Description These dwarf suc ...

'', '' Glottiphyllum'', '' Hallianthus'', '' Hereroa'', '' Ihlenfeldtia'', '' Imitaria'', '' Jacobsenia'', '' Jensenobotrya'', '' Jordaaniella'', '' Juttadinteria'', '' Khadia'', '' Lampranthus'', '' Lapidaria (plant)'', '' Leipoldtia'', ''

Lithops ''Lithops'' is a genus of succulent plants in the ice plant family, Aizoaceae. Members of the genus are native to southern Africa. They avoid being eaten by herbivores with their camouflage as small stones, and are often known as pebble plants ...

'', ''

Machairophyllum ''Machairophyllum'' is a genus of plants in the family Aizoaceae. Species , Plants of the World Online accepted the following species: *''Machairophyllum albidum'' Schwantes *''Machairophyllum bijlii'' (N.E.Br.) L.Bolus *''Machairophyllum brevif ...

'', '' Malephora'', ''

Mestoklema ''Mestoklema'' is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Aizoaceae. Its native range is Southern Africa. Species Species: *''Mestoklema albanicum'' *''Mestoklema arboriforme'' *''Mestoklema copiosum'' *''Mestoklema elatum'' *' ...

'', '' Meyerophytum'', '' Mitrophyllum'', '' Monilaria'', '' Mossia'', '' Muiria'', '' Namaquanthus'', ''

Namibia Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia, is a country on the west coast of Southern Africa. Its borders include the Atlantic Ocean to the west, Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south; in the no ...

'', '' Nananthus'', '' Nelia'', '' Neohenricia'', '' Octopoma'', '' Odontophorus'', '' Oophytum'', '' Ophthalmophyllum'', '' Orthopterum'', '' Oscularia'', '' Ottosonderia'', ''

Pleiospilos ''Pleiospilos'' is a genus of succulent flowering plants of the family Aizoaceae. It is endemic to the Cape Provinces of South Africa. The name is derived from the Greek ''pleios'' "many" and ''spìlos'' "spot". The plants are also known as ''kwa ...

'', '' Polymita'', '' Psammophora'', '' Rabiea'', '' Rhinephyllum'', '' Rhombophyllum'', ''

Ruschia ''Ruschia'' is a genus of succulent plant, in the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the dryer parts of southern Africa. Description Typical features of the genus include grey or blue-green succulent leaves, that are 3-sided or triangular in cross- ...

'', '' Ruschianthemum'', '' Ruschianthus'', '' Schlechteranthus'', '' Schwantesia'', '' Scopelogena'', '' Smicrostigma'', '' Stayneria'', '' Stoeberia'', '' Stomatium'', '' Tanquana'' ''

Titanopsis ''Titanopsis'' is a genus of about 10 species of succulent plants of the family Aizoaceae, indigenous to the arid regions of South Africa and Namibia. The name ''Titanopsis'' is derived from the Greek (god), ''Titans, Titan'', the sun, and ''ops ...

'', '' Trichodiadema'', '' Vanheerdea'', '' Vanzijlia'', '' Vlokia'', '' Wooleya'', '' Zeuktophyllum'' ** subfamily Sesuvioideae: '' Cypselea'', ''

Sesuvium ''Sesuvium'' is a genus of flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'se ...

'', ''

Trianthema ''Trianthema'' 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 ...

'', '' Tribulocarpus'', '' Zaleya'' *

Amaranthaceae Amaranthaceae ( ) is a family of flowering plants commonly known as the amaranth family, in reference to its type genus '' Amaranthus''. It includes the former goosefoot family Chenopodiaceae and contains about 165 genera and 2,040 species, maki ...

: ** subfamily

Amaranthoideae The Amaranthoideae are a subfamily of the Amaranthaceae. The stamens have anthers with two lobes (locules) and four pollen sacs. The main distribution of the subfamily is in tropical Americas, America, in Tropical Africa, tropical and southern A ...

: '' Arthraerva'' ** subfamily

Chenopodioideae The Chenopodioideae are a subfamily of the flowering plant family Amaranthaceae in the APG III system, which is largely based on molecular phylogeny, but were included – together with other subfamilies – in the family Chenopodiaceae, or goose ...

(family Chenopodiaceae):) ''

Atriplex ''Atriplex'' () is a plant genus of about 250 species, known by the common names of saltbush and orache (; also spelled orach). It belongs to the subfamily Chenopodioideae of the family Amaranthaceae ''s.l.''. The genus is quite variable and ...

'', ''

Chenopodium ''Chenopodium'' is a genus of numerous species of perennial or annual herbaceous flowering plants known as the goosefoot, which occur almost anywhere in the world. It is placed in the family Amaranthaceae in the APG II system; older classifica ...

'', '' Dissocarpus'', '' Einadia'', '' Enchylaena'', '' Eremophea'', '' Halopeplis'', ''

Maireana ''Maireana'' is a genus of around 58 species of flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae which are endemic to Australia. Plants in the genus ''Maireana'' are herbaceous to woody perennial plants or small shrubs with often fleshy or succulent ...

'', '' Malacocera'', '' Neobassia'', '' Osteocarpum'', '' Rhagodia'', ''

Roycea ''Roycea'' is a genus of plants formerly in the family Chenopodiaceae, and now in the Amaranthaceae. The genus was first described in 1948 by Charles Austin Gardner, and the genus name honours Robert Dunlop Royce (a helper at the Perth Herbari ...

'', '' Halosarcia'', ''

Salicornia ''Salicornia'' is a genus of succulent, halophytic (salt tolerant) flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae that grow in salt marshes, on beaches, and among mangroves. ''Salicornia'' species are native to North America, Europe, central Asia, ...

'', ''

Salsola ''Salsola'' is a genus of the subfamily Salsoloideae in the family Amaranthaceae. The genus ''sensu stricto'' is distributed in Australia, central and southwestern Asia, North Africa, and the Mediterranean. Common names of various members of this ...

'', ''

Sarcocornia ''Sarcocornia'' is a formerly recognized genus of flowering plants in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae. Species are known commonly as samphires, glassworts, or saltworts. Molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that when separated from ''Salico ...

'', '' Sclerochlamys'', ''

Sclerolaena ''Sclerolaena '' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Amaranthaceae. It includes 78 species of Annual plant, annuals or short-lived perennials native to Australia. Species 78 species are accepted. *''Sclerolaena aellenii'' *''Sclerola ...

'', ''

Suaeda __NOTOC__ ''Suaeda'' is a genus of plants also known as seepweeds and sea-blites. Most species are confined to saline or alkaline soil habitats, such as coastal salt-flats and tidal wetlands. Many species have thick, succulent leaves, a character ...

'', ''

Tecticornia ''Tecticornia'' is a genus of succulent, salt tolerant plants largely endemic to Australia. Taxa in the genus are commonly referred to as samphires. In 2007, the genus ''Halosarcia'', along with three other Australian genera (''Pachycornia'', ' ...

'', '' Threlkeldia'' * Anacampserotaceae: ''

Anacampseros ''Anacampseros'' L. is a genus comprising about a hundred species of small perennial succulent plants native to Southern Africa, Ethiopia and Latin America. The botanical name ''Anacampseros'' is an ancient one for herbs supposed to restore los ...

'', '' Avonia'', '' Grahamia'' *

Basellaceae Basellaceae is a family (biology), family of flowering plants in the order Caryophyllales, in the clade core eudicots, according to the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group. The family comprises 19 known species of herbaceous plants in four genera: * ''An ...

: ''

Anredera ''Anredera'' is a genus of plants native to Latin America, the West Indies, Texas, and Florida. Some are naturalized in other regions (notably Mediterranean region and on various oceanic islands). Most of them evergreen vines of dry scrubland a ...

'', ''

Basella The genus ''Basella'' is the type genus of the plant family Basellaceae. ''Basella'' contains five known species. Three species are endemic to Madagascar, and one is endemic to southeastern Africa. The fifth is widespread across Southeast Asia, ...

'' *

: ''

Acanthocalycium ''Acanthocalycium'' is a genus of cactus consisting of several species from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. The taxon name comes from Greek ''akantha'' (meaning ''prickly'') and ''kalyx'' (meaning ''buds''), which refers to the ...

'', '' Acanthocereus'', ''

Ariocarpus ''Ariocarpus'' is a small genus of succulent, subtropical plants of the family Cactaceae. It comes from limestone hills of Rio Grande in the south of Texas (''Ariocarpus fissuratus'') and also the north and the center of Mexico (all other speci ...

'', ''

Armatocereus ''Armatocereus'' (from Latin ''armatus'', "armed" and ''cereus'', "pliant/soft") is a genus of mostly tree-like cacti from South America (Ecuador and Peru). These species have a conspicuous constriction at the end of the annual growth. The flowe ...

'', '' Arrojadoa'', '' Arthrocereus'', '' Astrophytum'', '' Austrocactus'', '' Aztekium'', '' Bergerocactus'', '' Blossfeldia'', '' Brachycereus'', '' Browningia'', '' Brasilicereus'', '' Calymmanthium'', '' Carnegiea'', '' Cephalocereus'', '' Cephalocleistocactus'', '' Cereus'', '' Cintia'', ''

Cipocereus ''Cipocereus'' is a genus of cactus, cacti from Brazil. These species were previously included in the genera ''Pilosocereus'' and ''Cereus (plant), Cereus''. Description The plants of the genus ''Cipocereus'' are bushy, sometimes branched and co ...

'', ''

Cleistocactus ''Cleistocactus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the cactus family Cactaceae, native to mountainous areas - to - of South America (Peru, Uruguay, Bolivia and Argentina). The name comes from the Greek ''kleistos'' meaning closed because the fl ...

'', '' Coleocephalocereus'', '' Copiapoa'', '' Corryocactus'', '' Coryphantha'', '' Dendrocereus'', '' Denmoza'', ''

Discocactus ''Discocactus'' is a genus of Tropics, tropical cactus, cacti. ''Discocactus'' plants are endemic to southern Brazil, eastern Bolivia, and northern Paraguay. These species are in the risk of extinction in the wild. Description The species of th ...

'', ''Disocactus'', ''Echinocactus'', ''Echinocereus'', ''Echinopsis'', ''Epiphyllum'', ''Epithelantha'', ''Eriosyce'', ''Escobaria'', ''Escontria'', ''Espostoa'', ''Espostoopsis'', ''Eulychnia'', ''Facheiroa'', ''Ferocactus'', ''Frailea'', ''Geohintonia'', ''Gymnocalycium'', ''Haageocereus'', ''Harrisia (plant), Harrisia'', ''Hatiora'', ''Hylocereus'', ''Jasminocereus'', ''Lasiocereus'', ''Lepismium'', ''Leptocereus'', ''Leuchtenbergia'', ''Lophophora'', ''Maihuenia'', ''Mammillaria'', ''Matucana'', ''Melocactus'', ''Micranthocereus'', ''Mila (plant), Mila'', ''Monvillea'', ''Myrtillocactus'', ''Neobuxbaumia'', ''Neoraimondia'', ''Neowerdermannia'', ''Obregonia'', ''Opuntia'', ''Cylindropuntia'', ''Oreocereus'', ''Oroya'', ''Ortegocactus'', ''Pachycereus'', ''Parodia'', ''Pediocactus'', ''Pelecyphora'', ''Peniocereus'', ''Pereskia'', ''Pereskiopsis'', ''Pilosocereus'', ''Polaskia'', ''Praecereus'', ''Pseudoacanthocereus'', ''Pseudorhipsalis'', ''Pterocactus'', ''Pygmaeocereus'', ''Quiabentia'', ''Rauhocereus'', ''Rebutia'', '' Rhipsalis'', ''Schlumbergera'', ''Sclerocactus'', ''Selenicereus'', ''Stenocactus'', ''Stenocereus'', ''Stephanocereus'', ''Stetsonia (plant), Stetsonia'', ''Strombocactus'', ''Tacinga'', ''Thelocactus'', ''Trichocereus'' ''Turbinicarpus'', ''Uebelmannia'', ''Weberbauerocereus'', ''Weberocereus'' * Didiereaceae: ''Alluaudia'', ''Alluaudiopsis'', ''Calyptrotheca'', ''Decaria'', ''Didierea'', ''Portulacaria'' * Molluginaceae: ''Hypertelis'' * Montiaceae: ''Cistanthe'', ''Calandrinia'', ''Erocallis'', ''Lewisia'', ''Parakeelya'', Phemeranthus, ''Thingia'' * Phytolaccaceae: ''Phytolacca'' * Portulacaceae: ''Portulaca'' * Talinaceae: ''Amphipetalum'', ''Talinella'', ''Talinum'' Order Commelinales * Commelinaceae: ''Aneilema'', ''Callisia'', ''Cyanotis'', ''Tradescantia'', ''Tripogandra'' Order Cornales * Loasaceae: ''Schismocarpus'' Order Cucurbitales * Begoniaceae: ''Begonia'' * Cucurbitaceae: ''Acanthosicyos'', ''Apodanthera'', ''Brandegea'', ''Cephalopentandra'', ''Ceratosanthes'', ''Citrullus'', ''Coccinia'', ''Corallocarpus'', ''Cucumis, Cucumella'', ''Cucumis'', ''Cucurbita'', ''Cyclantheropsis'', ''Dactyliandra'', ''Dendrosicyos'', ''Doyera'', ''Eureindra'', ''Fevillea'', ''Gerrandanthus'', ''Gynostemma'', ''Halosicyos'', ''Ibervillea'', ''Kedostris'', ''Lagenaria'', ''Marah (plant), Marah'', ''Momordica'', ''Neoalsomitra'', ''Odosicyos'', ''Parasicyos'', ''Syrigia'', ''Telfairia'', ''Trochomeria'', ''Trochomeriopsis'', ''Tumamoca'', ''Xerosicyos'', ''Zehneria'', ''Zygosicyos'' Order Dioscoreales * Dioscoreaceae: ''Dioscorea'' Order Ericales * Balsaminaceae: ''Impatiens'' * Ericaceae: ''Sphyrospermum'' * Fouquieriaceae: ''Fouquieria'' Order Fabales * Fabaceae: ''Delonix'', ''Dolichos (plant), Dolichos'', ''Erythrina'', ''Lotononis'', ''Lupinus'', ''Neorautanenia'', ''Pachyrhizus'', ''Tylosema'' Order Filicales * Polypodiaceae: ''Drymoglossum niphoboloides'', ''Lecanopteris carnosa'' Order Gentianales *

: ''Adenium'', ''Mandevilla'', ''Pachypodium'', ''Plumeria'' ** subfamily Asclepiadoideae (syn. Asclepiadaceae): ''Absolmsia'', ''Australluma'', ''Aspidoglossum'', ''Aspidonepsis'', ''Baynesia'', ''Brachystelma'', ''Ceropegia'', ''Chlorocyathus'', ''Cibirhiza'', ''Cordylogyne'', ''Cynanchum'', ''Dischidia'', ''Dischidiopsis'', ''Duvaliandra'', ''Eustegia'', ''Fanninia'', ''Fockea'', ''Glossostelma'', ''Hoya (plant), Hoya'', ''Ischnolepis'', ''Lavrania'', ''Marsdenia'', ''Miraglossum'', ''Odontostelma'', ''Ophionella'', ''Orbeanthus'', ''Pachycarpus'', ''Parapodium (plant), Parapodium'', ''Periglossum'', ''Petopentia'', ''Raphionacme'', ''Riocreuxia'', ''Sarcorrhiza'', ''Schizoglossum'', ''Schlechterella'', ''Stathmostelma'', ''Stenostelma'', ''Stomatostemma'', ''Trachycalymma'', ''Trichocaulon'', ''Tylophora'' (now in ''Vincetoxicum''), ''Woodia'', ''Xysmalobium'' *** tribe Asclepiadeae: **** subtribe Asclepiadne: ''Asclepias'', **** subtribe Gonolobinae: ''Matelea'', *** tribe Maxillarieae: **** subtribe Lycastinae: ''Rudolfiella'' *** tribe Stapelieae: ''Angolluma'', ''Caralluma'', ''Desmidorchis'', ''Duvalia'', ''Echidnopsis'', ''Edithcolea'', ''Frerea'', ''Hoodia'', ''Huernia'', ''Huerniopsis'', ''Larryleachia'', ''Notechidnopsis'', ''Orbea (plant)'', ''Orbeopsis'', ''Piaranthus'', ''Pachycymbium'', ''Pectinaria (plant), Pectinaria'', ''Pseudolithos'', ''Pseudopectinaria'', ''Quaqua'', ''Rhytidocaulon'', ''Stapelia'', ''Stapelianthus'', ''Stapeliopsis'', ''Tavaresia'', ''Tridentea'', ''Tromotriche'', ''Whitesloanea'' ** subfamily Periplocoideae: *** tribe Cryptolepideae: ''Cryptolepis (plant), Cryptolepis'' * Rubiaceae: ''Anthorrhiza'', ''Anthospermum'', ''Hydnophytum'', ''Hydrophylax'', ''Myrmecodia'', ''Myrmephytum'', ''Phylohydrax'', ''Squamellaria'' Order Geraniales * Geraniaceae: ''Monsonia'', ''Pelargonium'' (succulents and geophytes), ''Sarcocaulon'' Order Lamiales * Gesneriaceae: ''Aeschynanthus'', ''Alsobia'', ''Chirita'', ''Codonanthe'', ''Columnea'', ''Nematanthus'', ''Sinningia'', ''Streptocarpus'' * Lamiaceae: ''Aeollanthus'', ''Dauphinea'', ''Perrierastrum'', ''Plectranthus'', ''Rotheca'', ''Solenostemon'', ''Tetradenia'', ''Thorncroftia'' * Lentibulariaceae * Pedaliaceae: ''Holubia (plant), Holubia'', ''Pterodiscus (plant), Pterodiscus'', ''Sesamothamnus'', ''Uncarina'' Order Malpighiales * Euphorbiaceae: ''Cnidoscolus'', ''

'', ''Jatropha'', ''Monadenium'', ''Pedilanthus'', ''Synadenium'' * Passifloraceae: ''Adenia'' * Phyllanthaceae: ''Phyllanthus'' Order Malvales * Cochlospermaceae * Malvaceae: ''Adansonia'', ''Cavanillesia'', ''Ceiba'', ''Pseudobombax'' ** subgroup Sterculiaceae: ''Brachychiton'', ''Sterculia'' Order Myrtales * Melastomataceae: ''Medinilla'' Order Oxalidales * Oxalidaceae (geophytes): ''Oxalis'' Order Piperales * Piperaceae: ''Peperomia'' Order Poales * Bromeliaceae: ''Abromeitiella'', ''Aechmea'', ''Ananas'', ''Catopsis'', ''Connellia'', ''Dyckia'', ''Hechtia'', ''Neoregelia'', ''Puya (genus), Puya'', ''

'', ''Vriesea'' * Poaceae: ''Dregeochloa'', ''Laobambos'' Order Ranunculales * Menispermaceae: ''Chasmanthera'', ''Stephania'', ''Tinospora'' Order Rosales * Moraceae: ''Dorstenia'', ''Ficus'' * Urticaceae: ''Laportea'', ''Obetia'', ''Pilea'', ''Pouzolzia'', ''Sarcopilea'' Order Santalales * Loranthaceae: ''Actinanthella'', ''Agelanthus'', ''Erianthemum'', ''Helixanthera'', ''Moquiniella'', ''Oncocalyx'', ''Pedistylis'', ''Plicosepalus'', ''Septulina'', ''Tapinanthus'', ''Vanwykia'' * Viscaceae (syn. Santalaceae): ''Viscum'' Order Sapindales * Anacardiaceae: ''Operculicaria'', ''Pachycormus (plant), Pachycormus'' * Burseraceae: ''Boswellia'', ''Bursera'', ''Commiphora'' * Meliaceae: ''Entandrophragma'' * Sapindaceae: ''Erythrophysa'' Order Saxifragales *

: ''Adromischus'', ''Aeonium'', ''Afrovivella'',''Aichryson'', ''Cotyledon (genus), Cotyledon'', ''Crassula'', ''Cremnophila (plant), Cremnophila'', ''Dudleya'', ''Echeveria'', ''Graptopetalum'', ''Greenovia'', ''Hylotelephium'', ''Kalanchoe'', ''Kungia'', ''Lenophyllum'', ''Meterostachys'', ''Monanthes'', ''Mucizonia'', ''Orostachys'', ''Pachyphytum'', ''Perrierosedum'', ''Petrosedum'', ''Phedimus'', ''Pistorinia'', ''Prometheum'', ''Pseudosedum'', ''Rhodiola'', ''Rosularia'', ''Sedella (plant), Sedella'', ''Sedum'', ''Sempervivum'', ''Sinocrassula'', ''Thompsonella'', ''Tylecodon'', ''Umbilicus (plant), Umbilicus'', ''Villadia'' * Saxifragaceae: ''Micranthes'', ''Saxifraga'' Order Solanales * Convolvulaceae: ''Ipomoea'', ''Merremia'', ''Stictocardia'', ''Turbina (plant)'' * Solanaceae: ''Nolana'' Order Vitales * Vitaceae: ''Cissus'', ''Cyphostemma'', ''Vitis'' Order Zygophyllales * Zygophyllaceae: ''Augea'', ''Seetzenia'', ''Zygophyllum'' (unplaced order)* Boraginaceae: ''Heliotropium'' (unplaced order)* Icacinaceae: ''Pyrenacantha'' (geophyte) There also were some succulent gymnosperms (but extinct since the end of the Cretaceous): Order Pinales * Cheirolepidiaceae: ''Frenelopsis'', ''Pseudofrenelopsis'', ''Suturovagina'', ''Glenrosa'' For some families and subfamilies, most members are succulent; for example the

, and

. The table below shows the number of succulent species found in some families and their native habitat:

Cultivation

Succulents are favored as houseplants for their attractiveness and ease of care. They have been cultivated as houseplants since at least the 17th century. If properly potted, succulents require little maintenance to survive indoors. Succulents are very adaptable houseplants and will thrive in a range of indoor conditions. For most plant owners, over-watering and associated infections are the main cause of death in succulents. Succulents can be propagated in a number of ways, with vegetative propagation being the most common. This includes ''Cutting (plant), cuttings'', where a few centimetres of the leafy stem is cut off and left to heal, forming a callus. Following a period of approximately seven days, roots may begin to develop. A second method is ''division'' consisting of uprooting an overgrown clump and pulling the stems and roots apart. A third method is propagation by leaf by allowing the formation of a callus. During this method, a bottom leaf is fully removed from the plant often by twisting or cutting. The leaf then dries out and a callus forms preventing the leaf from absorbing too much moisture and rotting. This method typically takes up to a few weeks to produce healthy roots that would eventually create new plants. The vegetative propagation can be different according to the species.

References

Bibliography

* * * (publication date also given as 1930s or 1940s) * * * * * *

External links

Succulent Plants of the World - an iNaturalist Project
{{Authority control Succulent plants, Plant common names Plant morphology Drought-tolerant plants Garden plants

Definition

Appearance

Habitat

Conservation

Families and genera

Cultivation

See also

References

Bibliography

External links