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

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 divider

Four distinct sepals and petals. Petals have claw at base and form cross when fully open.

Stems and Leaves

Perianth

Flowers and Inflorescence

Reproductive Structures

Fruit

Silique, silicle or capsule.

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 divider

Four distinct sepals and petals. Petals have claw at base and form cross when fully open.

Stems and Leaves

Perianth

Flowers and Inflorescence

Reproductive Structures

Fruit

Silique, silicle or capsule.

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 divider

Four distinct sepals and petals. Petals have claw at base and form cross when fully open.

Stems and Leaves

Perianth

Flowers and Inflorescence

Reproductive Structures

Fruit

Silique, silicle or capsule.

Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae

Eurosids II & Euasterids I 6

“claw” 4 + 2 stamens

CruciformGynophore

Brassicaceae

Lesquerella graclis

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 divider

Four distinct sepals and petals. Petals have claw at base and form cross when fully open.

Stems and Leaves

Perianth

Flowers and Inflorescence

Reproductive Structures

Fruit

Silique, silicle or capsule.

Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae

Eurosids II & Euasterids I 10

“claw” 4 + 2 stamens

CruciformGynophore

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 divider

Four distinct sepals and petals. Petals have claw at base and form cross when fully open.

Stems and Leaves

Perianth

Flowers and Inflorescence

Reproductive Structures

Fruit

Silique, silicle or capsule.

Brassicaceae

Brassicaceae

Eurosids II & Euasterids I

Raphanus sativus

Silique

Dry, dehiscent fruit of Brassicaceaewith two valves separating fromthe placentae and septum (replum)

Brassicaceae

Siliques

Silicles

Less than twice aslong as is wide

Brassicaceae

BrassicaceaeLesquerella montanaLesquerella montana

Brassicaceae

Sisymbrium irioSisymbrium irio