Aizoon (also written Aizoön) is a genus of about 43 accepted species of flowering plants belonging to the family Aizoaceae (the iceplant family), placed within the order Caryophyllales. The genus is predominantly a southern African group, with the great majority of species restricted to that region. The single notable exception is Aizoon canariense, which has a broader native range spanning Macaronesia, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and West Asia, and has also become naturalized in parts of California, Chile, Florida, New Jersey, and Spain. Plants in the genus are typically low-growing, often somewhat succulent herbs or subshrubs suited to arid and semi-arid environments.
Distribution
The vast majority of Aizoon species are native to southern Africa. Aizoon canariense is the outlier, occurring naturally across Macaronesia, North Africa, the Horn of Africa, and West Asia, and has been introduced to California, Central Chile, Florida, New Jersey, and Spain.
Taxonomy Notes
Aizoon belongs to the family Aizoaceae and the order Caryophyllales. GBIF currently recognizes 45 descendants under this genus. The genus name is also rendered Aizoön in older literature.
