succulent adj : full of juice; "lush fruits"; "succulent roast beef"; "succulent plants with thick fleshy leaves" [syn: lush] n : a plant adapted to arid conditions and characterized by fleshy water-storing tissues that act as water reservoirs

English

Adjective

1. juicy or lush
2. interesting or delectable
3. having fleshy leaves or other tissues that store water

Translations

Noun

1. a succulent plant (such as cactus)

Translations

• stems, rather than leaves, as the main site of photosynthesis
• a 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 reduce water loss via the creation of a humid microhabitat around the plant and a reduction in air movement near the surface of the plant.

Many succulents come from the dry areas of the tropics and subtropics, such as steppes, semi-desert and desert. High temperatures and low precipitation force plants to collect and store water in order to survive long dry periods. Succulents also occur as epiphytes, 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 coasts, or salt pans which are exposed to high levels of dissolved minerals.

The best known succulents are cacti (family: Cactaceae). Virtually all cacti are succulents, but many succulents are not cacti.

Families and genera

Plant families and genera in which succulent species occur are listed below.

• Agavaceae: Agave, Beschorneria, Chlorophytum, Furcraea, Hesperaloe, Hesperoyucca, Yucca
• Aizoaceae: Acrodon, Aloinopsis, Amoebophyllum, Amphibolia, Antegibbaeum, Apatesia, Aptenia, Arenifera, Argyroderma, Aridaria, Astridia, Bergeranthus, Berrisfordia, Braunsia, Brownanthus, Calamophyllum, Carpobrotus, Carruanthus, Caryotophora, Cephalophyllum, Cerochlamys, Chasmatophyllum, Cheiridopsis, Conicosia, Conophytum, Cylindrophyllum, Dactylopsis, Delosperma, Dicrocaulon, Dinteranthus, Dorotheanthus, Dracophilus, Drosanthemum, Eberlanzia, Ebracteola, Ectotropis, Enarganthe, Erepsia, Esterhuysenia, Eurystigma, Faucaria, Fenestraria, Frithia, Gibbaeum, Glottiphyllum, Halenbergia, Hereroa, Herrea, Herreanthus, Hydrodea, Hymenogyne, Imitaria, Jacobsenia, Juttadinteria, Kensitia, Khadia, Lampranthus, Lapidaria, Leipoldtia, Lithops, Machairophyllum, Malephora, Maughaniella, Mesembryanthemum, Mestoklama, Meyerophytum, Micropterum, Mimetophytum, Mitrophyllum, Monilaria, Muiria, Namaquanthus, Namibia, Nanathus, Nelia, Neohenricia, Neorhine, Nycteranthus, Octopoma, Odontophorus, Oophytum, Ophthalmophyllum, Orthopterum, Oscularia, Ottosonderia, Pherelobus, Platythyra, Pleiospilos, Polymita, Prenia, Psammophora, Psicaulon, Rabiea, Rhinephyllum, Rhombophyllum, Ruschia, Ruschianthemum, Ruschianthus, Saphesia, Sceletium, Schwantesia, Scopologena, Semnanthe, Skiatophytum, Smicrostigma, Sphalmanthus, Stayneria, Stomatium, Synaptophyllum, Titanopsis, Trichodiadema, Vanheerea, Vanzijlia, Wooleya, Zeuktophyllum
• Amaranthaceae: Arthraerva, Salicornia
• Amaryllidaceae: Boophane, Brunsvigia, Cyrtanthus, Haemanthus, Rauhia
• Anacardiaceae: Operculicaria, Pachycormus
• Apiaceae: Steganotaenia
• Apocynaceae: Adenium, Mandevilla, Pachypodium, Plumeria
  • subfamily Asclepiadoideae (syn. Asclepiadaceae): Absolmsia, 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, Marsdenia, Matelea, Miraglossum, Notechidnopsis, Odontostelma, Ophionella, Orbea, Orbeanthus, Pachycarpus, Pectinaria, Petopentia, Piaranthus, Pseudolithos, Quaqua, Raphionacme, Rhytidocaulon, Riocreuxia, Sarcorrhiza, Sarcostemma, Schizoglossum, Schlechterella, Stapelia, Stapelianthus, Stapeliopsis, Stathmostelma, Stenostelma, Stomatostemma, Tavaresia, Trachycalymma, Tridentea, Tromotriche, White-sloanea, Xysmalobium
• Araceae: Zamioculcas
• Araliaceae: Cussonia
• Asparagaceae: Myrsiphyllum
• Asphodelaceae: Aloe, Astroloba, Bulbine, Chortolirion, Gasteria, Haworthia, Poellnitzia, Trachyandra
• Asteraceae: Baeriopsis, Coulterella, Crassocephalum, Didelta, Gynura, Osteospermum, Othonna, Polyachyrus, Pteronia, Senecio
• Balsaminaceae: Impatiens
• Basellaceae: Anredera, Basella
• Begoniaceae: Begonia
• Bombaceae: Adansonia, Cavanillesia, Ceiba, Pseudobombax
• Brassicaceae: Heliophila, Lepidium
• Bromeliaceae: Abromeitiella
• Burseraceae: Beiselia, Bursea, Commiphora
• Cactaceae: Acanthocalycium, Acanthocereus, Ariocarpus, Armatocereus, Arrojadoa, Arthrocereus, Astrophytum, Austrocactus, Aztekium, Bergerocactus, Blossfeldia, Brachycereus, Browningia, Brasilicereus, Calymmanthium, Carnegiea, Cephalocereus, Cephalocleistocactus, 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, Monvillea, Myrtillocactus, Neobuxbaumia, Neolloydia, Neoraimondia, Neowerdermannia, Obregonia, Opuntia, Oreocereus, Oroya, Ortegocactus, 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
• Campanulaceae: Brighamia
• Capparidaceae: Maerua
• Caricaceae: Carica, Jacarathia
• Chenopodiaceae
• Cochlospermaceae
• Commelinaceae: Aneilema, Callisia, Cyanotis, Tradescantia, Tripogandra
• Convolvulaceae: Ipomea, Sictocardia, Turbina
• 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, Thompsonella, Tylecodon, Umbilicus, Villadia
• Cucurbitaceae: Apodanthera, Brandegea, Cephalopentandra, Ceratosanthes, Citrullus, Coccinia, Corallocarpus, Cucumella, Cucumis, Cucurbita, Cyclantheropsis, Dendrosicyos, Doyera, Eureindra, Fevillea, Gerrandanthus, Gynostemma, Halosicyos, Ibervilla, Kedostris, Marah, Momordica, Neoalsomitra, Odosicyos, Parasicyos, Syrigia, Telfairia, Trochomeria, Trochomeriopsis, Tumamoca, Xerosicyos, Zehneria, Zygosicyos
• Didiereaceae: Alluaudia, Alluaudiopsis, Decaria, Didierea
• Dioscoreaceae: Dioscorea
• Doryanthaceae: Doryanthes
• Ericaceae: Sphyrospermum
• Eriospermaceae: Eriospermum
• Euphorbiaceae: Cnidoscolus, Euphorbia, Jatropha
• Fabaceae: Delonix, Dolichos, Erythrina, Neorautanenia, Pachyrhizus, Tylosema
• Fouquieriaceae: Fouquieria
• Geraniaceae: Monsonia, Pelargonium
• Gesneriaceae: Aeschynanthus, Alsobia, Chirita, Codonanthe, Columnea, Nematanthus, Sinningia, Streptocarpus
• Hyacinthaceae: Albuca, Bowiea, Dipcadi, Drimia, Hyacinthus, Lachenalia, Ledebouria, Litanthus, Massonia, Ornithogalum, Rhadamanthus, Rhodocodon, Schizobasis, Urginea, Whiteheadia
• Icacinaceae: Pyrenacantha
• Lamiaceae: Aeollanthus, Dauphinea, Perrierastrum, Plectranthus, Solenostemon, Tetradenia, Thorncroftia
• Lentibulariaceae
• Loasaceae: Schismocarpus
• Loranthaceae: Tapinanthus
• Melastomataceae: Medinilla
• Meliaceae: Entandrophragma
• Menispermaceae: Chasmanthera, Stephania, Tinospora
• Moraceae: Dorstenia, Ficus
• Moringaceae: Moringa
• Nolanaceae: Nolana
• Nolinaceae: Beaucarnea, Calibanus, Dasylirion, Nolina
• Orchidaceae subfamily Epidendroideae Phalaenopsis
• Oxalidaceae: Oxalis
• Passifloraceae: Adenia
• Pedaliaceae: Pterodiscus, Sesamothamnus, Uncarina
• Phyllanthaceae: Phyllanthus
• Phytolaccaceae: Phytolacca
• Piperaceae: Peperomia
• Portulacaceae: Amphipetalum, Anacampseros, Avonia, Calyptrotheca, Ceraria, Cistanthe, Dendroportulaca, Grahamia, Lewisia, Parakeelya, Portulaca, Portulacaria, Schreiteria, Talinella, Talinum
• Rubiaceae: Anthorrhiza, Hydnophythum, Hydrophylax, Myrmecodia, Myrmephythum, Phylohydrax, Squamellaria
• Ruscaceae: Cordyline, Dracaena, Sansevieria
• Sapindaceae: Erythrophysa
• Saxifragaceae
• Sterculiaceae: Brachychiton, Sterculia
• Urticaceae: Laportea, Obertia, Pilea, Sarcopilea
• Viscaceae: Viscum
• Vitaceae: Cissus, Cyphostemma
• Xanthorrhoeaceae: Xanthorrhoea''
• Zygophyllaceae

For some families, most members are succulent; for example the Cactaceae, Agavaceae, Aizoaceae, and Crassulaceae.

The table below shows the number of succulent species found in some families:

See also

• Cactus and Succulent Society of America

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