Todos los Géneros If you''re not sure where to look, or if you just want everything made easy, here is the list of all the genera for which we have information.
Aizoaceae (Martynov 1820) They are herbaceous plants or subshrubs, with entire and opposite leaves, often fleshy and papillose. Virtually all members of the family are xerophytes, meaning plants adapted to withstand long periods of drought, hence they are well represented in desert areas. Etymology: From the Aizoön family.Place of Origin: Warm and subtropical regions, with a particular predominance in South Africa and to a lesser extent in Australia.
Apocynaceae (Juss., 1789) This plant family ranges from small herbs to large trees. Only two of its five subfamilies are succulent. Many species in this family possess interesting chemical properties; some have been sources of rubber, quinine, alkaloids, poisons, and more. They also hold significant ornamental value, such as the oleander. Etymology: From the Apocynoideae family.Place of Origin: Tropical regions in practically the entire world.
Asparagaceae (Juss., 1789) It includes herbaceous, shrubby, or tree-like perennial plants, equipped with rhizomes, bulbs, or fleshy roots. The leaves are generally alternate, simple, and in many cases arranged in basal rosettes. The flowers, hermaphroditic and regular, are usually arranged in racemes or spikes. The fruit is typically a capsule or a berry containing hard, black seeds. Etymology: Asparagus family.Place of Origin: Wide, nearly global distribution, with particular abundance in temperate, tropical, and subtropical regions.
Asphodelaceae (Juss. 1789) It includes herbaceous, succulent, or shrubby plants, generally perennial, with tuberous roots, rhizomes, or bulbs. They feature leaves arranged in basal rosettes, often fleshy and with a thick cuticle. The flowers, hermaphroditic and regular, have six free or partially fused tepals and are arranged in racemes or panicles. The fruit is a trilocular capsule containing numerous seeds. Etymology: Family of plants related to Asphodelus.Place of Origin: Primarily in South Africa, and to a lesser extent in North Africa, the Mediterranean region, the Middle East, and some areas of Western Asia.
Asteraceae (Bercht. & Presl 1820) It is one of the largest families, with over 20,000 species. It is characterized by having inflorescences composed of numerous flowers surrounded by bracts. They typically exhibit herbaceous or shrubby habits. Some contain valuable essential oils of commercial importance. Etymology: Also known as Compositae. It refers to the aster family, with the aster being the type genus of this family, and in Greek it means star, alluding to the shape of its flowers.Place of Origin: Widespread across all continents and in nearly all regions.
Cactaceae (Juss. 1789) The most famous of the succulent plants. Despite popular belief, all their species originate from America, although in recent centuries and thanks to human activity, they have spread to every corner of the planet. Etymology: Cactus family.Place of Origin: Exclusive to the American continent, except for a few species that became naturalized on other continents in very ancient times.
Crassulaceae (de Candolle 1805) It groups together succulent plants, mainly small to medium-sized, adapted to arid and semi-arid environments. Their leaves are typically fleshy and thickened, capable of storing water, although not all species exhibit this trait. These plants generally develop small flowers, clustered in racemes, and are highly valued in gardening for their resistance to seasonal droughts and poor soils. Etymology: From the Crassula family.Place of Origin: Hot and dry regions across the five continents.
Dracaenaceae (Salisb. 1812) It contains about 160 species, ranging from plants of varying sizes—from the small stature of sansevierias to the enormous size that some dragon trees can reach. They are of great ornamental interest.Etymology: From the dragon tree family.Place of Origin: Macaronesia, tropical Africa, Morocco, some small parts of southern Asia, and a couple of species in South America.
Euphorbiaceae (Juss., 1789) Extremely diverse family of plants with the most varied shapes and sizes, not all of which are succulent. Among their most notable common characteristics are the presence of latex, generally toxic, and three seeds in each fruit. Etymology: Euphorbiaceae: Euphorbia family.Place of Origin: Virtually global except for frozen lands.
Portulacaceae (Juss. 1789) It includes herbaceous, succulent, or creeping plants, annual or perennial, with fleshy stems and opposite, alternate, or fasciculate leaves, generally succulent. The flowers are actinomorphic, hermaphroditic or unisexual, with five free sepals and petals, solitary or in racemose or cymose inflorescences. The fruit is usually a dehiscent capsule that releases numerous small seeds. They are commonly used for ornamental and food purposes. Etymology: From the purslane family.Place of Origin: Primarily in the planet's arid zones, some species exist far to the north, even in Arctic regions.