Brassicaceae - Cabbage 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: 12 cultivated genera and 11 cultivated taxa.