The Aizoaceae is a family of succulents that is rich in indole and tryptamine alkaloids. Initial research suggests that these alkaloids are distributed in groups of closely related species, which makes accurate taxonomic information paramount in researching this family. Presented here is a key to the subfamilies within the family Aizoaceae. The information is taken from the excellent publication "Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants - Aizoaceae", Volume 1 (A-E) & Volume 2 (F-Z), by Heidrun E.K.Hartmann, published by Springer and currently available from www.amazon.com .

The Aizoaceae are divided into 5 subfamilies (see table at end- subfamilies in bold). Each subfamily holds many genera (see table at end - genus not bold).


Key to the subfamilies:
1
Petals of staminoidal origin present.
go to 2
Petals absent; perigone-lobes petaloid inside, sepaloid outside.
go to 3
   
2
Placentation central; nectaries shell-shaped to tubular (koilomorphic); petals and stamens mostly united into a tube.
Mesembryanthemoideae
Placentation basal or parietal, extremely rarely central; nectaries crest-shaped (lophomorphic), petals mostly free.
Ruschioideae
   
3
Fruit indehiscent, a winged or horned nut, rarely a drupe; plants often andromonoecious.
Tetragonoideae
Fruit as capsule; inflorescences of hermaphrodite flowers only.
go to 4
   
4
Capsule circumscissile; aril present, covering the seed completely.
Sesuvioideae
Capsule loculicidal or septicidal, often hygrochastic; seeds never arillate.
Aizooideae


Notes to the subfamily key:
1
Petals of staminoidal origin present.
Petals absent; perigone-lobes petaloid inside, sepaloid outside.
   
2
Placentation central; nectaries shell-shaped to tubular (koilomorphic); petals and stamens mostly united into a tube.
Placentation basal or parietal, extremely rarely central; nectaries crest-shaped (lophomorphic), petals mostly free.
   
3
Fruit indehiscent, a winged or horned nut, rarely a drupe; plants often andromonoecious.
Tetragonoideae
Fruit as capsule; inflorescences of hermaphrodite flowers only.
go to 4
   
4
Capsule circumscissile; aril present, covering the seed completely.
Sesuvioideae
Capsule loculicidal or septicidal, often hygrochastic; seeds never arillate.
Aizooideae










Aizoaceae
Aizooideae
Mesembryanthemoideae
Ruschioideae
Sesuvioideae
Tetragonoideae
         
Acrosanthes Aptenia Acrodon Cypselea Tetragonia
Aizoanthemum Aridaria Aethephyllum Sesuvium Tribulocarpus
Aizoon Aspazoma Aloinopsis Trianthema  
Galenia Brownanthus Amphibolia Zaleya  
Gunniopsis Caulipsolon Antegibbaeum    
Plinthus Mesembryanthemum Antimima    
  Phyllobolus Apatesia    
  Prenia Arenifera    
  Psilocaulon Argyroderma    
  Sceletium Astridia    
  Synaptophyllum Bergeranthus    
    Bijlia    
    Braunsia    
    Carpanthea    
    Carpobrotus    
    Carruanthus    
    Caryotophora    
    Cephalophyllum    
    Cerochlamys    
    Chasmatophyllum    
    Cheiridopsis    
    Circandra    
    Cleretum    
    Conicosia    
    Conophytum    
    Corpuscularia    
    Cylindrophyllum    
    Deilanthe    
    Delosperma    
    Dicrocaulon    
    Didymaotus    
    Dinteranthus    
    Diplosoma    
    Disphyma    
    Dorotheanthus    
    Dracophilus    
    Drosanthemum    
    Eberlanzia    
    Ebracteola    
    Ectotropis    
    Enarganthe    
    Erepsia    
    Esterhuysenia    
    Faucaria    
    Fenestraria    
    Frithia    
    Gibbaeum    
    Glottiphyllum    
    Hallianthus    
    Hammeria    
    Hartmanthus    
    Hereroa    
    Hymenogyne    
    Ihlenfeldtia    
    Jacobsenia    
    Jensenobotrya    
    Jordaaniella    
    Juttadinteria    
    Khadia    
    Lapidaria    
    Lampranthus    
    Leipoldtia    
    Lithops    
    Machairophyllum    
    Malephora    
    Marlothistella    
    Mestoklema    
    Meyerophytum    
    Mitrophyllum    
    Monilaria    
    Mossia    
    Muiria    
    Namaquanthus    
    Namibia    
    Nananthus    
    Nelia    
    Neohenricia    
    Octopoma    
    Odontophorus    
    Oophytum    
    Orthopterum    
    Oscularia    
    Ottosonderia    
    Peersia    
    Pleispilos    
    Polimyta    
    Prepodesma    
    Psammophora    
    Rabiea    
    Rhinephyllum    
    Rhombophyllum    
    Ruschia    
    Ruschianthemum    
    Ruschianthus    
    Saphesia    
    Schlechteranthus    
    Schwantesia    
    Scopelogena    
    Skiatophytum    
    Smicrostigma    
    Stayneria    
    Stoeberia    
    Stomatium    
    Tanquana    
    Titanopsis    
    Trichodiadema    
    Vanheerdea    
    Vanzijlia    
    Vlokia    
    Wooleya    
    Zeuktophyllum