Zygophyllaceae

Caltrop Family

By: George Rogers

A small primarily woody family of about 30 genera and 200-300 species, mostly in warm, dryish climates. Leaves usually opposite, frequently pinnately compound, even-pinnate (in ours), stipulate. Flowers radially symmetrical, the petals usually 5, separate. Pistil typically with 5 carpels, the fruit often (not always) capsular. Probably best known in Florida for the roadside-weedy Puncturevines (bright yellow-flowered trailers in the genus Tribulus, the fruits with nasty spines).

The Main Cultivated Tree Species in South Florida Are:

1. Flowers blue-violet…Lignum Vitae (Guajacum sanctum, also occasionally the similar G. officinale (see species page for distinctions)

1. Flowers buttery-yellow…Verawood (Bulnesia arborea)