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.
LUNARIA
MOONWORT
Annual, biennial, perennial herb; hairs simple
Leaves simple, petioled, ± ovate, dentate
Inflorescence: bracts 0 or subtending lower flowers, leaf-like
Flower: sepals erect, inner pair sac-like at base; petals long-clawed, bluish or lilac to purplish, rarely white; stamens 6
Fruit widely elliptic to round, very flat parallel to septum, long-stalked above receptacle; valves falling; style ± beak-like
Seeds 2 rows per chamber, very flat, winged; stalks fused to septum; embryonic root at edges of both cotyledons
Species in genus: 3 species: Eur
Etymology: (Latin: moon, from shiny septum)
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