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.
MATTHIOLA
STOCK
Annual, perennial herb, generally grayish; hairs dense, multibranched, rarely also simple or glandular
Stems 1–few, branched
Leaves simple, entire to dentate
Flower: sepals erect, inner pair sac-like at base; petals long-clawed; filaments often expanded at base, appendages 0; stigma with a deep, decurrent lobe above each valve
Fruit linear, cylindric or ± flat
Seeds 1 row per chamber, winged
Species in genus: ± 50 species: Eur, Africa, Asia
Etymology: (P.A. Matthioli, Italian physician, botanist, 1500–1577)
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