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 Plants 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 Form Plants 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 Form Plants 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

Eurosids II & Euasterids I 6 “claw” stamens Cruciform Gynophore

Brassicaceae Lesquerella graclis

Brassicaceae

Life Form Plants 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

Eurosids II & Euasterids I 10 “claw” stamens Cruciform Gynophore

Life Form Plants 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

Eurosids II & Euasterids I Raphanus sativus Silique Dry, dehiscent fruit of Brassicaceae with two valves separating from the placentae and septum (replum)

Brassicaceae Siliques Silicles Less than twice as long as is wide

Brassicaceae

Lesquerella montana

Brassicaceae Sisymbrium irio