Brassicaceae (Cruciferae)Mustard Family

ca. 420 genera />4100 species

Lepidium (pepper grass, whitetop)Sisymbrium (London rocket)Brassica (cole crops)Lesquerella (bladderpod)Draba Descurainia (tansey mustard)Arabis (rock cress)Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae

Life FormPlants usually herbaceous, sometimes woody.Flowers bisexual and mostly regular. Inflorescence typically a raceme.Leaves alternate, simple or divided. Major leaves often in basal rosette.

Six stamens, usually with four long and two short filaments. Superior ovary on prolonged receptacle (gynophore); two carpels that form two-chambered capsule-like fruit with persistent central dividerFour distinct sepals and petals. Petals have claw at base and form cross when fully open. Stems and LeavesPerianthFlowers and InflorescenceReproductive StructuresFruitSilique, silicle or capsule.Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae

Life FormPlants usually herbaceous, sometimes woody.Flowers bisexual and mostly regular. Inflorescence typically a raceme.Leaves alternate, simple or divided. Major leaves often in basal rosette.

Six stamens, usually with four long and two short filaments. Superior ovary on prolonged receptacle (gynophore); two carpels that form two-chambered capsule-like fruit with persistent central dividerFour distinct sepals and petals. Petals have claw at base and form cross when fully open. Stems and LeavesPerianthFlowers and InflorescenceReproductive StructuresFruitSilique, silicle or capsule.Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae

Major leaves in basal rosette (Arabidopsis sp.)

Life FormPlants usually herbaceous, sometimes woody.Flowers bisexual and mostly regular. Inflorescence typically a raceme.Leaves alternate, simple or divided. Major leaves often in basal rosette.

Six stamens, usually with four long and two short filaments. Superior ovary on prolonged receptacle (gynophore); two carpels that form two-chambered capsule-like fruit with persistent central dividerFour distinct sepals and petals. Petals have claw at base and form cross when fully open. Stems and LeavesPerianthFlowers and InflorescenceReproductive StructuresFruitSilique, silicle or capsule.Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae

BrassicaceaeEurosids II & Euasterids I*claw4 + 2 stamensCruciformGynophore

Brassicaceae

BrassicaceaeLesquerella graclis

Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae

Life FormPlants usually herbaceous, sometimes woody.Flowers bisexual and mostly regular. Inflorescence typically a raceme.Leaves alternate, simple or divided. Major leaves often in basal rosette.

Six stamens, usually with four long and two short filaments. Superior ovary on prolonged receptacle (gynophore); two carpels that form two-chambered capsule-like fruit with persistent central dividerFour distinct sepals and petals. Petals have claw at base and form cross when fully open. Stems and LeavesPerianthFlowers and InflorescenceReproductive StructuresFruitSilique, silicle or capsule.Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae

BrassicaceaeEurosids II & Euasterids I*claw4 + 2 stamensCruciformGynophore

Brassicaceae

Life FormPlants usually herbaceous, sometimes woody.Flowers bisexual and mostly regular. Inflorescence typically a raceme.Leaves alternate, simple or divided. Major leaves often in basal rosette.

Six stamens, usually with four long and two short filaments. Superior ovary on prolonged receptacle (gynophore); two carpels that form two-chambered capsule-like fruit with persistent central dividerFour distinct sepals and petals. Petals have claw at base and form cross when fully open. Stems and LeavesPerianthFlowers and InflorescenceReproductive StructuresFruitSilique, silicle or capsule.Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae

BrassicaceaeEurosids II & Euasterids IRaphanus sativusSiliqueDry, dehiscent fruit of Brassicaceaewith two valves separating fromthe placentae and septum (replum)

Brassicaceae

BrassicaceaeSiliquesSiliclesLess than twice aslong as is wide

Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae

BrassicaceaeLesquerella montana

Brassicaceae

BrassicaceaeSisymbrium irio

Brassicaceae

*stems often hollow in internodal region; leaves alternate and spiral often with sheathing bases***