Zygophyllaceae is a plant family that contains numerous species, including plants that are used for medicinal purposes, ornamental plants, and plants used for food. There are several synonyms for the word Zygophyllaceae, including the common name Bean caper family, which refers to the fruit of some members of the family that resemble capers. Other common synonyms include the names Creosote Bush family, Nitraria family, and Guaiacum family, which are all based on the most prominent species within the family. The Zygophyllaceae family is distributed throughout the world, but is most abundant in arid and semi-arid regions.