Leaves generally basal and cauline, alternate, generally simple; stipules 0
Inflorescence: generally raceme
Flower bisexual; sepals 4, free; petals (0)4, free, generally white or yellow, often clawed; stamens generally (2,4)6, generally 4 long, 2 short; ovary 1, superior, chambers generally 2, septum membranous, connecting 2 parietal placentas, style 1, stigma simple or 2-lobed
Fruit: generally capsule ("silique") with 2 deciduous valves, sometimes breaking transversely or indehiscent
Seeds 1–many per chamber
Genera in family: 300+ genera, 3000+ species: worldwide, especially cool regions; some cultivated for food (especially Brassica, Raphanus ) and ornamental
Recent taxonomic note: Recently treated to include Capparaceae [Rodman et al. 1993 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 80:686–699; Rollins 1993 Cruciferae of Continental North America. Stanford Univ Press]
Family description, key to genera by Robert A. Price.
AUBRIETA
Perennial, cespitose to prostrate; caudex branched; hairs simple or branched, stellate or not
Inflorescence terminal
Flower: filaments of single, outer stamen with a dentate appendage at base
Fruit 2–many X longer than wide, flat to ± cylindric or inflated; valves with a median vein
Seeds 2 rows per chamber
Species in genus: ± 15 species: mtns, Italy to Iran
Etymology: (C. Aubriet, French painter of flowers, animals, 1651–1743)
| Introduced |
A. deltoidea (L.) DC.
Low; hairs dense
Leaves: cauline spoon-shaped to obovate, entire to coarsely dentate
Flower showy; sepals 6–10 mm; petals 12–28 mm, reddish purple to violet, rarely white
Fruit 6–22 mm, inflated; hairs dense, generally stellate; style 4–8 mm
Ecology: Open, disturbed areas
Elevation: 1500–2000 m.
Bioregional distribution: c North Coast Ranges (Lake, Mendocino cos.)
Distribution outside California: native to Europe
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