Succulent plant

Succulent plants store water in their plant parts, here in the leaves of aloe vera .

Succulents (singular the succulents, from the Latin sucus for 'juice' or suculentus for 'rich in juice') are plants rich in sap that are adapted to special climatic and soil conditions. Depending on the plant organ that has been transformed to store water, a distinction is made between leaf, stem and root succulents, all combinations being possible. In the field of anatomy , fluid-rich tissue is referred to as succulent.

Although cacti only make up a very small part of all existing succulents, they are considered the most famous representatives of the succulent plants. In linguistic usage, a distinction is therefore made between cacti and “other” succulents.

Due to the very different degrees of succulence in the individual species, an exact distinction between succulent and non-succulent species is sometimes very difficult. Succulent and non-succulent specimens can even occur within a species. At the borderline there are both herbaceous or woody plants as well as those that store sugar and starch rather than water in their beet roots. Succulents are sometimes referred to as fat plants .

Families and genera

Plant families and genera that contain succulents are listed in the table below. In order to keep the table clear and legible, all families and genera are listed alphabetically according to their botanical name and supplemented with the German common names of the families, if available. At this point, the German generic names, the authors of the taxa as well as information on synonyms and other hierarchical levels of the biological systematics (such as subfamilies), which can be found in the individual articles, are not taken into account .

family	genus	Example image
Agave family (Agavaceae)	Agave , Beschorneria , Chlorophytum , Furcraea , Hesperaloe , Hesperoyucca , Yucca
Midday flowers (Aizoaceae)	Acrodon , Acrosanthes , Aethephyllum , aizoanthemum , Aizoon , Aloinopsis , amphibolia , Antegibbaeum , antimima , Apatesia , Aptenia , Arenifera , Argyroderma , Aridaria , Aspazoma , astridia , Bergeranthus , Bijlia , Braunsia , brownanthus , Calamophyllum , Carpanthea , Carpobrotus , Carruanthus , Caryotophora , Cephalophyllum , cerochlamys , Chasmatophyllum , Cheiridopsis , Circandra , Cleretum , Conicosia , Conophytum , Corpuscularia , Cylindrophyllum , Cypselea , Deilanthe , Delosperma , Dicrocaulon , Didymaotus , Dinteranthus , Diplosoma , Disphyma , Dorotheanthus , Dracophilus , Drosanthemum , Eberlanzia , Ebracteola , Ectotropis , Enarganthe , Erepsia , Esterhuysenia , Faucaria , Fenestraria , Frithia , Galenia , Gibbaeum , Glottiphyllum , Gunniopsis , Hallianthus , Hammeria , Hartmanthus , Hereroa , Ihlenfeldtia , Jacobsenia , Jensenobotrya , Jordaaniella , juttadinteria , Khadia , Lampranthus , Lapidaria , Leipoldtia , Lithops , Machairophyllum , Malephora , Marlothistella , Mesembryanthemum , Mestoklema , Meyerophytum , Mitrophyllum , Monilaria , Mossia , Muiria , Namaquanthus , Namibia , Nananthus , Nelia , Neohenricia , Octopoma , Odontophorus , Oophytum , Orthopterum , Oscularia , Ottosonderia , Peersia , Phyllobolus , Pleiospilos , Plinthus , Polymita , Prenia , Prepodesma , Psammophora , Psilocaulon , Rabiea , Rhinephyllum , Rhombophyllum , Ruschia , Ruschianthemum , Ruschianthus , Saphesia , Sarcozona , Sceletium , Schlechteranthus , schwantesia , Scopelogena , Sesuvium , Skiatophytum , Smicrostigma , Stayneria , Stoeberia , Stomatium , Synaptophyllum , Tanquana , Tetragonia , Titanopsis , Trianthema , Tribulocarpus , Trichodiadema , Vanheerdea , Vanzijlia , Vlokia , Wooleya , Zaleya , Zeuktophyllum
Foxtail family (Amaranthaceae)	Arthraerva , Dendroportulaca , Salicornia
Amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae)	Boophane , Brunsvigia , Cyrtanthus , Haemanthus , Rauhia
Anacampserotaceae	Anacampseros (including Avonia ), Grahamia , Talinopsis
Sumac family (Anacardiaceae)	Operculicaria , Pachycormus
Umbelliferae (Apiaceae)	Crithmum , Steganotaenia
Dog poison family (Apocynaceae)	Absolmsia , Adenium , Apteranthes , Asclepias , Aspidoglossum , Aspidonepsis , Baynesia , Brachystelma , Caralluma , Ceropegia , Cibirhiza , Cynanchum , Dischidia , Dischidiopsis , Duvalia , Duvaliandra , Echidnopsis , Edithcolea , Fanninia , Fockea , Glossostelma , Hoodia , Hoya , Huernia , Huerniopsis , Ischnolepis , larryleachia , Lavrania , Madangia , Mandevilla , Marsdenia , Matelea , Micholitzia , Miraglossum , Notechidnopsis , Odontostelma , Ophionella , Orbea , Orbeanthus , Pachycarpus , Pachypodium , Pectinaria , Petopentia , Piaranthus , Plumeria , Pseudolithos , Quaqua , Raphionacme , Rhytidocaulon , Riocreuxia , Sarcorrhiza , Sarcostemma , Schizoglossum , Schlechterella , Stapelia , Stapelianthus , Stapeliopsis , Stathmostelma , Stenostelma , Stomatostemma , Tavaresia , Trachycalymma , Tridentea , Tromotriche , White-Sloanea , Xysmalobium
Arum family (Araceae)	Zamioculcas
Araliaceae (Araliaceae)	Cussonia
Asparagaceae (Asparagaceae)	Beaucarnea , Calibanus , Cordyline , Dasylirion , Dracaena , Eriospermum , Myrsiphyllum , Nolina , Sansevieria
Affodilla family (Asphodelaceae)	Aloe , Astroloba , Bulbine , Chortolirion , Gasteria , Haworthia , Poellnitzia , Trachyandra
Daisy family (Asteraceae)	Baeriopsis , Coulterella , Crassocephalum , Didelta , Gynura , Kleinia , Osteospermum , Othonna , Polyachyrus , Porophyllum , Pteronia , Senecio , Stevia
Balsamin family (Balsaminaceae)	Impatiens
Basellaceae (Basellaceae)	Salutation , Basella
Slate family (Begoniaceae)	Begonia
Cruciferous family (Brassicaceae)	Heliophila , Lepidium
Bromeliads (Bromeliaceae)
Balsam family (Burseraceae)	Beiselia , Bursera , Commiphora
Cactus family (Cactaceae)	Acanthocalycium , Acanthocereus , Ariocarpus , Armatocereus , Arrojadoa , Arthrocereus , Astrophytum , Austrocactus , Aztekium , Bergerocactus , Blossfeldia , Brachycereus , Browningia , brasilicereus , Calymmanthium , Carnegiea , Cephalocereus , Cereus , Cintia , cipocereus , Cleistocactus , Coleocephalocereus , Copiapoa , Corryocactus , Coryphantha , Dendrocereus , Denmoza , Discocactus , Disocactus , echinocactus , Echinocereus , Echinopsis , Epiphyllum , Epithelantha , Eriosyce , Escobaria , Escontria , Espostoa , Espostoopsis , Eulychnia , facheiroa , Ferocactus , Frailea , Geohintonia , gymnocalycium , Haageocereus , Harrisia , Hatiora , Hylocereus , Jasminocereus , Lasiocereus , Leocereus , Lepismium , Leptocereus , Leuchtenbergia , lophophora , Maihuenia , Malacocarpus , mammillaria , Mammilloydia , Matucana , Melocactus , Micranthocereus , Mila , Myrtillocactus , neobuxbaumia , Neolloydia , neoraimondia , Neowerdermannia , Obregonia , Opuntia , Oreocereus , Oroya , Ortegocactu s , Pachycereus , Parodia , Pediocactus , Pelecyphora , Peniocereus , Pereskia , Pereskiopsis , Pilosocereus , polaskia , praecereus , pseudoacanthocereus , pseudorhipsalis , Pterocactus , pygmaeocereus , Quiabentia , Rauhocereus , Rebutia , Rhipsalis , Samaipaticereus , schlumbergera , Sclerocactus , Selenicereus , Stenocactus , Stenocereus , Stephanocereus , Stetsonia , Strombocactus , Tacinga , Thelocactus , Turbinicarpus , Uebelmannia , Weberbauerocereus , Weberocereus , Yungasocereus
Bellflower family (Campanulaceae)	Brighamia
Capers (Capparaceae)	Maerua
Melon trees (Caricaceae)	Carica , Jacarathia
Carnation family (Caryophyllaceae)	Honckenya
Cochlospermaceae	Cochlospermum
Commelina plants (Commelinaceae)	Aneilema , Callisia , Cyanotis , Tradescantia , Tripogandra
Bindweed family (Convolvulaceae)	Ipomoea , Stictocardia , Turbina
Costaceae	Costus
Thick-leaf family (Crassulaceae)	Adromischus , aeonium , Afrovivella , Aichryson , Cotyledon , Crassula , CREMNOPHILA , Cremnosedum , Dudleya , Echeveria , Graptopetalum , Hylotelephium , Hypagophytum , Kalanchoe , Lenophyllum , Meterostachys , Monanthes , Orostachys , Pachyphytum , Perrierosedum , Phedimus , Pistorinia , Prometheum , pseudosedum , Rhodiola , Rosularia , Sedella , Sedum , Sempervivum , Sinocrassula , Tacitus , Thompsonella , Tylecodon , Umbilicus , Villadia
Pumpkin family (Cucurbitaceae)	Apodanthera , Brandegea , Cephalopentandra , Cerato Anthes , Citrullus , Coccinia , Corallocarpus , Cucumella , Cucumis , Cucurbita , Cyclantheropsis , Dendrosicyos , Doyera , Eureindra , Fevillea , Gerrandanthus , Gynostemma , Halosicyos , Ibervilla , Kedostris , Marah , Momordica , Neoalsomitra , Odosicyos , Parasicyos , Syrigia , Telfairia , Thladiantha , Trochomeria , Trochomeriopsis , Tumamoca , Xerosicyos , Zehneria , Zygosicyos
Davalliaceae	Davallia
Didiereaceae	Alluaudia , Alluaudiopsis , Decarya , Didierea
Yam family (Dioscoreaceae)	Dioscorea
Spear Flowers (Doryanthaceae)	Doryanthes
Heather family (Ericaceae)	Sphyrospermum
Spurge Family (Euphorbiaceae)	Cnidoscolus , Euphorbia , Jatropha
Legumes (Fabaceae)	Delonix , Dolichos , Erythrina , Neorautanenia , Pachyrhizus , Tylosema
Fouquieriaceae	Fouquieria
Cranesbill family (Geraniaceae)	Monsonia , Pelargonium , Sarcocaulon
Gesneriaceae (Gesneriaceae)	Aeschynanthus , Alsobia , Chirita , Codonanthe , Columnea , Nematanthus , Sinningia , Streptocarpus
Hyacinth family (Hyacinthaceae)	Albuca , Bowiea , Dipcadi , Drimia , Hyacinthus , Lachenalia , Ledebouria , Litanthus , Massonia , Ornithogalum , Rhadamanthus , Rhodocodon , Schizobasis , Urginea , Whiteheadia
Icacinaceae	Pyrenacantha
Mint family (Lamiaceae)	Aeollanthus , Dauphinea , Perrierastrum , Plectranthus , Solenostemon , Tetradenia , Thorncroftia
Water hose family (Lentibulariaceae)	Pinguicula
Nettle family (Loasaceae)	Schismocarpus
Belt flowers (Loranthaceae)	Tapinanthus
Mallow family (Malvaceae)	Adansonia , Brachychiton , Cavanillesia , Ceiba , Pseudobombax , Sterculia
Black Mouth Family (Melastomataceae)	Medinilla
Mahogany (Meliaceae)	Entandrophragma
Moon seed family (Menispermaceae)	Chasmanthera , Stephania , Tinospora
Montiaceae	Calyptrotheca , Ceraria , Cistanthe , Lewisia , Parakeelya , Portulacaria , Schreiteria
Mulberry family (Moraceae)	Dorstenia , Ficus
Moringaceae	Moringa
Orchids (orchidaceae)
Wood sorrel family (Oxalidaceae)	Oxalis
Passion flower family (Passifloraceae)	Adenia
Sesame family (Pedaliaceae)	Pterodiscus , Sesamothamnus , Uncarina
Phyllanthaceae	Phyllanthus
Pokeweed family (Phytolaccaceae)	Phytolacca
Pepper family (Piperaceae)	Peperomia
Purslane family (Portulacaceae)	Portulaca
Red family (Rubiaceae)	Anthorrhiza , Hydnophythum , Hydrophylax , Myrmecodia , Myrmephythum , Phylohydrax , Squamellaria
Sandalwood family (Santalaceae)	Viscum
Soap tree family (Sapindaceae)	Erythrophysa
Saxifragaceae (Saxifragaceae)	Tetilla , Bergenia , Saxifraga
Nightshade family (Solanaceae)	Nolana
Talinaceae	Amphipetalum , Talinella , Talinum
Nettle family (Urticaceae)	Laportea , Obertia , Pilea , Sarcopilea
Grapevines (Vitaceae)	Cissus , Cyphostemma
Grass trees (Xanthorrhoeaceae)
Lignum-vitae (Zygophyllaceae)	Augea , Zygophyllum

literature

• Urs Eggli (ed.): Succulent lexicon. Monocotyledons . Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3662-7 .

1. ↑ Agavaceae, pp. 1–103, 6 genera
2. ↑ Anthericaceae, pp. 236-237, 1 genus
3. ↑ Amaryllidaceae, pp. 232-236, 5 genera
4. ↑ Araceae, pp. 238-239, 1 genus
5. ↑ Asparagaceae, pp. 239-241, 1st genus
6. ↑ Dracaenaceae, pp. 269–284, 3 genera
7. ↑ Eriospermaceae, pp. 284-285, 1 genus
8. ↑ Nolinaceae, pp. 299-306, 4 genera
9. ↑ Aloaceae, pp. 103-231, 6 genera, 12 hybrid genera
10. ↑ Asphodelaceae, pp. 241-256, 2 genera
11. ↑ Bromeliaceae, pp. 256-257, only mentioned, no genera described
12. ↑ Commelinaceae, pp. 257-265, 5 genera
13. ↑ Dioscoreaceae, pp. 265-268, 1 genus
14. ↑ Doryanthaceae, pp. 268-269, 1st genus
15. ↑ Hyacinthaceae, pp. 286-299, 15 genera
16. ↑ Orchidaceae, pp. 306–307, only mentioned, no genera
17. ↑ Xanthorrhoeaceae, p. 307, Xanthorrhoea only mentioned, no genera

• Urs Eggli (ed.): Succulent lexicon. Dicotyledons (dicotyledons) . Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-8001-3915-4 .

1. ↑ Anacardiaceae, pp. 3-4, 2 genera
2. ↑ Araliaceae, pp. 13-14, 1 genus
3. ↑ Balsaminaceae, p. 42, 1 genus
4. ↑ Basellaceae, pp. 43-44, 2nd genus
5. ↑ Begoniaceae, pp. 45-47, 1 genus
6. ↑ Brassicaceae, pp. 52-55, 2 genera
7. ↑ Burseraceae, pp. 56–61, 3 genera
8. ↑ Campanulaceae, p. 63, 1st genus
9. ↑ Caricaceae, pp. 65-67, 2 genera
10. ↑ Convolvulaceae, pp. 69–74, 3 genera
11. ↑ Didiereaceae, pp. 99-101, 4 genera
12. ↑ Ericaceae, p. 102, 1st genus
13. ↑ Fabaceae, pp. 244-252, 6 genera
14. ↑ Fouquieriaceae, pp. 253-255, 1 genus
15. ↑ Gesneriaceae, pp. 290–305, 8 genera
16. ↑ Icacinaceae, pp. 305-306, 1 genus
17. ↑ Lamiaceae, pp. 307-326, 7 genera
18. ↑ Loasaceae, pp. 327-328, 1 genus
19. ↑ Loranthaceae, pp. 328-329, 1 genus
20. ↑ Melastomataceae, pp. 329-330, 1 genus
21. ↑ Meliaceae, pp. 330-331, 1 genus
22. ↑ Menispermaceae, pp. 332-334, 3 genera
23. ↑ Moraceae, pp. 334-345, 2 genera
24. ↑ Oxalidaceae, pp. 355-358, 1 genus
25. ↑ Passifloraceae, pp. 359-374, 1 genus
26. ↑ Pedaliaceae, pp. 374–385, 3 genera
27. ↑ Phytolaccaceae, pp. 385-386, 1st genus
28. ↑ Piperaceae, pp. 386-394, 1 genus
29. ↑ Rubiaceae, pp. 464-472, 7 genera
30. ↑ Sapindaceae, p. 473, 1st genus
31. ↑ Urticaceae, pp. 478-481, 4 genera
32. ↑ Vitaceae, pp. 482–494, 2 genera

• Focke Albers, Ulli Meve (ed.): Succulent lexicon. Asclepiadaceae (milkweed family) . Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2002, ISBN 3-8001-3982-0 .
• Urs Eggli (ed.): Succulent lexicon. Crassulaceae (thick leaf family) . Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-8001-3998-7 .
• Heidrun EK Hartmann (eds.): Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Aizoaceae AE . Springer Verlag, Berlin / Heidelberg / New York 2001, ISBN 3-540-41691-9 .
• Heidrun EK Hartmann (eds.): Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Aizoaceae F-Z . Springer Verlag, Berlin / Heidelberg / New York 2001, ISBN 3-540-41723-0 .
• Edward F. Anderson: The Great Cactus Lexicon . Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart 2005, ISBN 3-8001-4573-1 .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Entry "Succulents" in the Duden online dictionary
2. ^ Gerhard Wagenitz : Dictionary of Botany. The terms in their historical context. 2nd, expanded edition. Spektrum Akademischer Verlag, Heidelberg / Berlin 2003, ISBN 3-8274-1398-2 , p. 316.

further reading

• U. Eggli, R. Nyffeler: Living under temporarily arid conditions - succulence as an adaptive strategy . In: Bradleya . Volume 27, 2009, pp. 13-36.
• R. Nyffeler, U. Eggli: An up-to-date familial and suprafamilial classification of succulent plants . In: Bradleya . Volume 28, 2010, pp. 125-144.

Web links

Commons : Succulents  - Collection of images, videos, and audio files

• Cactus and succulent plant mall , German language website Internet hub with thousands of other links to succulent plants
• Specialist Society for Other Succulents
• Succulents Collection Zurich