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 Form
Flowers and Inflorescence
Plants usually herbaceous, sometimes
woody.
Flowers bisexual and mostly regular.
Inflorescence typically a raceme.
Stems and Leaves
Leaves alternate, simple or divided. Major
leaves often in basal rosette.
Reproductive Structures
Perianth
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.
Fruit
Silique, silicle or capsule.
Brassicaceae
Life Form
Flowers and Inflorescence
Plants usually herbaceous, sometimes
woody.
Flowers bisexual and mostly regular.
Inflorescence typically a raceme.
Stems and Leaves
Leaves alternate, simple or divided. Major
leaves often in basal rosette.
Reproductive Structures
Perianth
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.
Fruit
Silique, silicle or capsule.
Brassicaceae
Major leaves in basal rosette (Arabidopsis sp.)
Life Form
Flowers and Inflorescence
Plants usually herbaceous, sometimes
woody.
Flowers bisexual and mostly regular.
Inflorescence typically a raceme.
Stems and Leaves
Leaves alternate, simple or divided. Major
leaves often in basal rosette.
Reproductive Structures
Perianth
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.
Fruit
Silique, silicle or capsule.
Brassicaceae
4 + 2 stamens
“claw”
Cruciform
Gynophore
Eurosids II & Euasterids I
Brassicaceae
6
Lesquerella graclis
Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae
Life Form
Flowers and Inflorescence
Plants usually herbaceous, sometimes
woody.
Flowers bisexual and mostly regular.
Inflorescence typically a raceme.
Stems and Leaves
Leaves alternate, simple or divided. Major
leaves often in basal rosette.
Reproductive Structures
Perianth
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.
Fruit
Silique, silicle or capsule.
Brassicaceae
4 + 2 stamens
“claw”
Cruciform
Gynophore
Eurosids II & Euasterids I
Brassicaceae
10
Life Form
Flowers and Inflorescence
Plants usually herbaceous, sometimes
woody.
Flowers bisexual and mostly regular.
Inflorescence typically a raceme.
Stems and Leaves
Leaves alternate, simple or divided. Major
leaves often in basal rosette.
Reproductive Structures
Perianth
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.
Fruit
Silique, silicle or capsule.
Brassicaceae
Raphanus sativus
Silique
Dry, dehiscent fruit of Brassicaceae
with two valves separating from
the placentae and septum (replum)
Eurosids II & Euasterids I
Brassicaceae
Siliques
Silicles
Less than twice as
long as is wide
Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae
Lesquerella montana
Brassicaceae
Sisymbrium irio
Brassicaceae