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.
BRASSICA
MUSTARD, TURNIP
Annual, perennial herb; hairs simple
Stem erect, branched, glabrous above
Leaves: basal and lower cauline petioled, dentate to pinnately lobed, lateral lobes < terminal
Inflorescence terminal; bracts ± 0
Flower: sepals erect; petals generally yellow
Fruit linear; valves 1-veined; beak conic or cylindric, with seeds 0 or rarely 1–2
Seeds many, 1 row per chamber, spheric, finely to coarsely netted
Species in genus: ± 35 species: Medit, Eurasia, some naturalized ± worldwide
Etymology: (Latin: cabbage)
Naturalizing CVS soon lose desirable food properties. B. oleracea L., cabbage, with thick, glaucous leaves and open inflorescence, is established on se-facing seacliffs, n CCo, c&s NCo.
| Introduced |
B. rapa L.
TURNIP, FIELD MUSTARD
Annual, erect; hairs 0 or very sparse, not stiff
Stem simple to freely branched, 2–10 dm
Leaves: lower cauline ± pinnately lobed, lateral lobes 2–4, terminal lobe obovate, wavy-dentate; middle, upper leaves sessile, base lobed, ± clasping stem
Flower: petals 6–11 mm, yellow
Fruit ascending to ± spreading, 3–7 cm; pedicel ± ascending, 7–25 mm; beak (8)10–15 mm, narrowed to a slender style
Seed ± 1.5 mm wide, very finely netted
Chromosomes: 2n=20
Ecology: Grainfields, orchards, disturbed areas
Elevation: < 1500 m.
Bioregional distribution: California Floristic Province, East of Sierra Nevada
Distribution outside California: widespread US, native to Europe
Flowering time: Mostly Jan–May
Synonyms: B. campestris L
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