Zygophyllaceae | |
---|---|
Larrea tridentata | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Zygophyllales |
Family: | Zygophyllaceae R.Br. |
Subfamilies | |
Larreoideae | |
Synonyms | |
Zygophyllaceae is a family of flowering plants that contains the bean-caper and caltrop. The family includes around 285 species in 22 genera.[2]
Plants in the family Zygophyllaceae may be trees, shrubs, or herbs. They are often found in dry habitats. The leaves are usually opposite, often with stipules and spines. Some are cultivated as ornamental plants, such as species of the Guaiacum, Zygophyllum, Tribulus, and Larrea genera.[3] King Clone, a creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) in California, is among the world's oldest living organisms.
The distribution of plants in the Zygophyllaceae family can be found worldwide in warm tropics and cool-temperate subtropics with a concentration in hot, arid regions with alkaline soils.[4] Regions with different species from this family include Africa, south Asia, India, Australia and parts of the United States.[5]