Shrubs, shrublets, or perennial herbs, rarely annuals. Stipules distinct or connate, often persistent. Leaves opposite or sometimes alternate, simple or pinnate, often fleshy. Inflorescences axillary or terminal, solitary, racemose, or cymose. Flower bisexual, actinomorphic or zygomorphic. Sepals 4 or 5, imbricate or valvate. Petals 4 or 5, imbricate or valvate. Stamens 4 or 5 or up to 3 × as many as petals, with or without appendages. Ovary usually (2 or)3-5(-12)-locular. Fruit a drupe, capsule, or schizocarp, leathery or fragile.

Liou Yingxin. 1998. Zygophyllaceae (excluding Nitraria and Peganum). In: Xu Langran & Huang Chengchiu, eds., Fl. Reipubl. Popularis Sin. 43(1): 116-145.

Twenty-six genera and ca. 284 species: temperate, tropical, and subtropical areas of Africa, America, Asia, Australia, and Europe; three genera (one endemic) and 22 species (three endemic) in China.

(Authors: Liu Yingxin (刘媖心 Liou Yingxin, Liu Ying-hsin); Lihua Zhou (周丽华))