Many families of plants contain succulent (i.e. water storing) species that have adapted to the arid climates of deserts and semi-deserts. Many of these habitats are associated with high day-time temperatures and special mechanisms have evolved to collect and conserve the limited moisture that is available, sometimes only from dews, mists and fogs. Convergent evolution has often resulted in similar solutions to the problems of living in a harsh environment, and it may be obvious that similar looking plants belong to different families only when they are flowering. Sadly, like many other flora and fauna, succulent plants are under pressure throughout the world from encroaching urbanisation, agriculture and the depredations of widespread non-indigenous livestock such as goats. While these pressures may be inevitable, there is much that succulent plant enthusiasts can do to promote the conservation and survival of this interesting group of plants.