Zygophylloideae
Subfamily of plants
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Zygophylloideae is a subfamily of the family Zygophyllaceae. The subfamily comprises about 180 species of shrubs, subshrubs and herbs,[1] found throughout arid parts of the Palaeotropics and into North and South America. As of February 2025[update], the division of the subfamily into genera is disputed, with between four and seven genera accepted by different sources.
| Zygophylloideae | |
|---|---|
| |
| Zygophyllum fontanesii | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Zygophyllales |
| Family: | Zygophyllaceae |
| Subfamily: | Zygophylloideae (R.Br.) Arn. |
| Genera | |
Taxonomy
Molecular phylogenetic studies from 2000 onwards have repeatedly strongly supported the monophyly of the subfamily Zygophylloideae. However, the division of the subfamily into genera remains disputed, as of February 2025[update].[2] A study in 2000 showed that the genus Zygophyllum, as then circumscribed, was polyphyletic, with Augea, Fagonia and Tetraena embedded within it.[3] One response to this, published in 2018, was to expand Zygophyllum to include these three genera.[4] As of February 2025[update], both Plants of the World Online and the World Flora Online synonymize Augea, Fagonia and Tetraena with Zygophyllum, but retain Melocarpum and Miltianthus.[5][6]
An alternative proposed in 2003 is to recognize six monophyletic genera (Augea, Fagonia, Melocarpum, Roepera, Tetraena, and Zygophyllum). A cladogram supporting this proposal is shown below.[1]
| Zygophylloideae | |
Sheahan in 2006 did not fully support the recognition of six genera within the Zygophylloideae. He accepted Tetraena only as a monotypic genus endemic to Inner Mongolia, and did not accept Roepera.[7] A 2008 study recognized neither Roepera nor Tetraena. Its preferred cladogram is shown below.[8]
| Zygophylloideae |
| ||||||||||||||||||
Genera
| Genus | Beier et al. (2003)[1] | Bellstedt et al. (2008)[8] | PoWO & WFO (2025)[5][6] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Augea Thunb. | accepted | accepted | =Zygophyllum |
| Fagonia L. | accepted | accepted | =Zygophyllum |
| Melocarpum (Engl.) Beier & Thulin | accepted | accepted | accepted |
| Miltianthus Bunge | =Zygophyllum | not included in study | accepted |
| Roepera A.Juss. | accepted | =Zygophyllum | accepted |
| Tetraena Maxim. | accepted | =Zygophyllum | =Zygophyllum |
| Zygophyllum L. | accepted | accepted | accepted |
Distribution and habitat
Members of the subfamily Zygophylloideae are generally adapted to arid conditions. They are found in dry or desert areas throughout the Palaeotropics, including Asia, northern Africa and Arabia, southwestern Africa, and Australia.[9] In the broad circumscription used by, for example, Plants of the World Online, the genus Zygophyllum extends into North and South America.[5]
Roepera spinosa, coastline of Namaqua National Park
Roepera ammophila, Australia
Zygophyllum atriplicoides, Behbahan, Iran
Fagonia cretica, syn. Zygophyllum creticum, Cartagena, Spain
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