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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
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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.

CAPSELLA

SHEPHERD'S PURSE

Annual, biennial; hairs 0, simple, or branched
Leaves: basal clustered or rosetted, entire to dissected or lobed; cauline sessile, sagittate, ± clasping stem
Flower: sepals green or reddish, bases not sac-like; petals ± 2 mm, obovate to spoon-shaped, white or pinkish
Fruit obtriangular-obcordate, flattened perpendicular to septum; valves keeled
Seeds many; wing 0; embryonic root at back of 1 cotyledon
Species in genus: ± 4 species: Eur
Etymology: (Latin: little box)

Introduced

C. bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik.

Annual; hairs simple and stellate
Stem erect, 1–5 dm, branched or not
Leaves: basal rosetted, petioled, 3–6 cm, oblanceolate, subentire to pinnately lobed or dissected
Inflorescence many-flowered
Flower: petals white, distinctly clawed
Fruit 4–8 mm; pedicel spreading to ascending
Chromosomes: 2n=32
Ecology: Disturbed sites, gardens
Elevation: < 2300 m.
Bioregional distribution: California
Distribution outside California: N.America; native to Europe
Flowering time: All year

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