Download Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae
(Cruciferae)
The Mustard Family
Brassicaceae
375 genera/3200 species
• Herbs with alternate, simple leaves
• Mustard oils present (taste it!)
• Flowers perfect, actinomorphic,
usually in racemes
• Flowers perfect, 4-partate,
usually yellow or white
Ca 4 Co 4 A 4+2 G 2
stamens tetradynamous
Fruit a silique
or a silicle
septum
Lunaria (honesty or moneywort)
replum
Economic Importance
Brassica oleracea
Economic Importance
mustard
wasabi
horseradish
Local Flora
Arabis lyrata
Lyre-leaved rock cress
Hesperis matronalis
Dame’s rocket
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Shepherd’s purse
Local Flora
Brassica rapa
field mustard
Lepidium campestre
pepper grass
BRASSICACEAE
(Cruciferae)
Mustard Family
Ca4 Co4 A4+2 G2
375 genera/3200 species
Recognition Characters:
• Annual or perennial herbs
 Leaves alternate, simple
• Flowers perfect, actinomorphic, usually in racemes
 Calyx and corolla 4-partate, the latter usually yellow or
white
 Androecium of 6 stamens, tetradynamous
 Ovary superior, gynoecium of 2 fused carpels
 Fruit a silicle or silique