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BRASSICACEAE

MUSTARD FAMILY

Reed C. Rollins, except as specified

Annual to subshrub
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.

CARDAMINE

BITTER-CRESS, TOOTHWORT

Annual, biennial, perennial herb, from taproots, fibrous roots, or tuber-like rhizomes; hairs 0 or simple
Leaves entire or palmately or pinnately lobed to compound; rhizome leaves often present, separate from others
Inflorescence bracted or not
Flower: sepals equal at base; petals white to pink or rose
Fruit linear, generally flat; valves generally opening elastically, sometimes by coiling from base; septum margins intruding on valves
Seeds many, 1 row per chamber, wingless (± margined in C. oligosperma); embryonic root at edges of both cotyledons
Species in genus: ± 170 species: most temp parts of world
Etymology: (Greek: for a cress with medicinal uses)

Introduced

C. hirsuta L.

Annual
Stem generally 1, erect, 5–30 cm, stiff; hairs toward base, generally 0
Leaves compound, crowded below; basal often rosetted; petioles ciliate; leaflets 2–3 pairs, 0.5–4 mm wide, ovate to ± round, wavy-margined to shallowly few-lobed, terminal > lateral
Flower: petals 1.5–2 mm, white; stamens generally 4
Fruit erect; pedicel ascending; style 0.3–1 mm, stout; valves at dehiscence rolling into tight rings
Seeds 22–36
Chromosomes: 2n=16
Ecology: Lawns, roadsides, ditches
Elevation: 600–800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, expected elsewhere
Distribution outside California: e N.America, C.America; native to Europe

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