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.
RAPISTRUM
WILD TURNIP
Annual, perennial herb; hairs simple
Leaves: lower petioled, pinnately lobed to compound; upper sessile or short-petioled, simple, subentire to dentate
Inflorescence dense; bracts 0
Flower: petals obovate, clawed
Fruit elliptic to widely oblong, breaking transversely into 2 indehiscent segments, sessile above receptacle; pedicel slender to thick; valves rigid, generally wrinkled
Seeds generally 1–3, oblong or ovate, ± flat; cotyledons folded lengthwise
Species in genus: 2 species: Eur
Etymology: (Latin: turnip-like)
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