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The genus Fagonia is a member of Zygophyllaceae, which is included in the eurosid I clade (APG II, 2003). In a phylogenetic analysis of Zygophylloideae, based on molecular and morphological data, Fagonia was shown to have a well-supported position as sister to the genus Melocarpum, endemic to the Horn of Africa region (Beier et al., 2003). Fagonia consists of shrubs with free spinescent or pointed stipules, pink or purple petals, and an obconical, more or less pubescent, loculicidal capsule, often with persisting sepals. Most species of Fagonia have three-foliolate leaves, but there are also several species that are one-foliolate. The free stipules and the pubescent, obconical capsules are particularly important in the circumscription of Fagonia. The delimitation of species in Fagonia is known for being notoriously dificult. This is caused by the great variation in most morphological characters in many of the species. The ﬁrst complete modern treatment has been ﬁnished only recently (Beier, in press). Following this revision, Fagonia is a genus of 34 species conﬁned to warm and arid areas of all continents except Australia, with concentrations of species in the Horn of Africa.