Spermatophyta: Dicotyledonae: Archichlamydeae: Brassicales

Brassicaceae - Cabbage family

Cruciferae

Clapham, A.R., Tutin, T.G. & Warburg, E.F. (1962) Flora of the British Isles. 2nd edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Exell, A.W. (1960) Brassicaceae Flora Zambesiaca 1(1)

Tutin, T.G. et al. (eds) assisted by Akeroyd, J.R. & Newton, M.E. (1993) Flora Europaea. Vol. 1. (2nd edition) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Description of the family

Annual, biennial or perennial herbs. Stipules 0. Leaves alternate. Flowers in racemes, usually bisexual, hypogynous, actinomorphic. Sepals 4, free, in 2 series. Petals 4 (rarely 0). Stamens 6 (inner 4 long, outer 2 short). Ovary 2-locular. Style 1. Stigmas 2. Fruit dry, usually a dehiscent siliqua or silicula, opening from below by 2 valves, sometimes breaking into segments transversely, sometimes indehiscent.

Comment: A family of predominantly introduced weeds, most of which are rather rare casuals. The name crucifer means "cross bearing", a reference to the cross shape made by the 4 petals. Closely related to the Capparaceae.

Worldwide: 365 genera and 3,250 species, cosmopolitan but especially in temperate areas (Mediterranean to central Asia, western North America).

Zimbabwe: 11 cultivated genera and 11 cultivated taxa.

Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum

Links to cultivated genera:     View: living plant images - herbarium specimen images - all images for this family

GenusContent
Aurinia (L.) Desv.Description
Brassica L.Description, Image
Diplotaxis DC.
Eruca Mill.Description
Erucastrum (DC.) C. PreslDescription
Erysimum L.Description
Iberis L.
Lobularia Desv.Description, Image
Malcolmia W.T. Aiton
Matthiola W.T. AitonDescription
Rorippa Scop.Description, Image

Other sources of information about Brassicaceae:

Our websites:

Flora of Botswana: Brassicaceae
Flora of Caprivi: cultivated Brassicaceae
Flora of Malawi: Brassicaceae
Flora of Mozambique: Brassicaceae
Flora of Mozambique: cultivated Brassicaceae
Flora of Zambia: Brassicaceae
Flora of Zimbabwe: Brassicaceae

External websites:

African Plants: A Photo Guide (Senckenberg): Brassicaceae
BHL (Biodiversity Heritage Library): Brassicaceae
EOL (Encyclopedia of Life): Brassicaceae
GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Brassicaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar
iNaturalist: Brassicaceae
IPNI (International Plant Names Index): Brassicaceae
JSTOR Plant Science: Brassicaceae
Mansfeld World Database of Agricultural and Horticultural Crops: Brassicaceae
Wikipedia: Brassicaceae
Plants of the World Online: Brassicaceae
Tropicos: Brassicaceae



Copyright: Mark Hyde, Bart Wursten, Petra Ballings and Meg Coates Palgrave, 2002-24

Hyde, M.A., Wursten, B.T., Ballings, P. & Coates Palgrave, M. (2024). Flora of Zimbabwe: Cultivated plants: Family page: Brassicaceae.
https://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/cult/family.php?family_id=37, retrieved 28 March 2024

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