Brassicaceae: Exploring the Vibrant World of the Mustard Family
In the grand tapestry of botanical diversity, the Brassicaceae family stands as a testament to nature’s ingenuity, with its various members ranging from herbaceous wonders to resilient shrubs. Known by several monikers, including the Mustard Family, Crucifers, and Cabbage Family, Brassicaceae weaves a story of global distribution and structural elegance. Join us as we delve into this captivating family, where simple leaves, delicate petals, and distinctive fruit intertwine to create a symphony of botanical marvels.
A Family Across Continents
The Brassicaceae family’s influence knows no bounds, as its members flourish in various corners of the world. From towering shrubs to delicate herbs, Brassicaceae‘s presence graces diverse landscapes, embracing both temperate and tropical regions.
The Elegance of Leaves and Flowers
Leaves within the Brassicaceae family adhere to a simple and alternate pattern, eschewing stipules for a clean, unadorned aesthetic. The flowers, often terminal and bractless, present a captivating sight with their four-petaled design. Amidst these petals, two short and four long stamens emerge, crafting a harmonious visual symphony.
Fruitful Pursuits: Siliciles and Pods
The Brassicaceae family’s signature contribution to the botanical world is its unique fruit structure, often described as pod-like or silicile. These structures encapsulate the seeds, ensuring their protection and dispersal as they journey to sow the seeds of future generations.
Genera and Species: A Vast Family Portrait
With a breathtaking array of approximately 372 genera and 4,060 species, Brassicaceae boasts a diverse portfolio that spans the gamut of botanical forms and functions. From towering shrubs that brave the elements to delicate herbs that grace meadows and gardens, each member contributes a unique narrative to the family’s collective story.
A Legacy of Culinary and Ecological Significance
The Brassicaceae family holds a special place in human history, offering a plethora of plants with culinary and nutritional importance. Cabbage, mustard, broccoli, and kale are just a few members that have made their mark on our tables. Beyond gastronomy, these plants play vital roles in ecosystems, contributing to pollination, pest control, and the intricate dance of biodiversity.
The Brassicaceae family’s enduring presence in the botanical world showcases the wonder of nature’s diversity and adaptability. From its herbaceous beginnings to its robust shrubs, this family’s story is etched across the globe, playing roles in both human sustenance and ecological harmony. As we explore the delicate petals, silicile fruit, and diverse forms of Brassicaceae, we are reminded of the intricate connections that weave life together on Earth—a testament to the beauty, resilience, and interdependence that define the world of plants.
Some of the Brassicaceae species are rather well-known household names:
Arugula or Eruca sativa
Bok Choy or Brassica rapa var. chinensis
Brocolli or Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Brussels Sprouts or Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera
Cabbage or Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Cauliflower Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
Kale or Brassica oleracea var. acephala
Turnip or Brassica rapa var. rapa
Candytuft or Iberis
Horseradish or Armoracia rusticana
Radish or Raphanus sativus
Stock or Mathiola
Stonecress or Aethionema
Wallflower or Erysimum
Wasabi or Eutrema japonicum
Watercress or Barbarea
Brassicaceae family genera include:
Achoriphragma
Acroschizocarpus
Acuston
Adyseton
Aethionema
Agianthus
Aizodraba
Alliaria
Alyssoides
Alyssopsis
Alyssum
Ammosperma
Anastatica
Anchonium
Andreoskia
Andrzeiowskia
Anelsonia
Anguillicarpus
Aphragmus
Aplanodes
Apterigia
Arabidella
Arabidopsis
Arabis
Arcyosperma
Armoracia
Arthrolobus
Aschersoniodoxa
Asperuginoides
Asta
Asterotricha
Ateixa
Atelanthera
Athysanus
Atropatenia
Aubrieta
Aurinia
Baimashania
Ballantinia
Barbamine
Barbarea
Berteroa
Berteroella
Biscutella
Bivonaea
Blennodia
Boechera
Boleum
Boreava
Bornmuellera
Borodinia
Botschantzevia
Brachiolobos
Brachycarpaea
Brachylobus
Brachypus
Brassica
Braya
Brayopsis
Brossardia
Buchingera
Bunias
Bursa
Cakile
Calepina
Callothlaspi
Calymmatium
Camelina
Camelinopsis
Capsella
Cardamine
Cardaminopsis
Carinavalva
Carponema
Carpopodium
Carrichtera
Cartiera
Catadysia
Catenulina
Catolobus
Caulanthus
Caulostramina
Ceratocnemum
Ceriosperma
Chalcanthus
Chamira
Chartoloma
Chaunanthus
Cheesemania
Cheiranthesimum
Cheiranthus
Cheiri
Cheirinia
Cheirysimum
Chilocardamum
Chlorocrambe
Chorispora
Christolea
Chrysobraya
Chrysochamela
Cibotarium
Cithareloma
Clastopus
Clausia
Clypeola
Cochlearia
Coelophragmus
Coincya
Coluteocarpus
Conringia
Cordylocarpus
Cornalia
Coronopus
Coulterina
Couringia
Crambe
Crambella
Cremolobus
Crenularia
Crucifera
Crucihimalaya
Cruciundula
Cryptospora
Cuphonotus
Cusickiella
Cycloptychis
Cymatocarpus
Cynocardamum
Cyphocardamum
Dactylocardamum
Decaptera
Degenia
Deilosma
Delpinophytum
Dendroarabis
Dentaria
Descurainia
Desideria
Diceratella
Dichasianthus
Dichroanthus
Dictyophragmus
Didesmus
Didymophysa
Dielsiocharis
Dilophia
Dimorphocarpa
Diplotaxis
Dipoma
Diptychocarpus
Disaccanthus
Discovium
Distomocarpus
Dithyrea
Dontostemon
Douepea
Draba
Drabastrum
Dryopetalon
Eigia
Elburzia
Enarthrocarpus
Englerocharis
Eremobium
Eremoblastus
Eremodraba
Eremophyton
Ermania
Erophila
Eruca
Erucago
Erucaria
Erucastrum
Erysimum
Euclidium
Eudema
Euklisia
Eunomia
Eurycarpus
Eutrema
Exhalimolobos
Farsetia
Fedtschenkoa
Fezia
Fibigia
Foleyola
Fortuynia
Galitzkya
Gamosepalum
Geococcus
Glastaria
Glaucocarpum
Goerkemia
Goldbachia
Gorodkovia
Graellsia
Greggia
Guepinia
Guillenia
Guiraoa
Gynophorea
Halimolobos
Harmsiodoxa
Hedinia
Heldreichia
Heliophila
Hemicrambe
Hemilophia
Henophyton
Hesperidanthus
Hesperidopsis
Hesperis
Heterothrix
Hexaptera
Hilliella
Hirschfeldia
Holargidium
Hollermayera
Hormathophylla
Hornungia
Horwoodia
Hugueninia
Hutchinsia
Ianhedgea
Iberidella
Iberis
Icianthus
Idahoa
Inopsidium
Iodanthus
Ionopsidium
Irenepharsus
Isatis
Iskandera
Ivania
Jodanthus
Jondraba
Jonopsidium
Jonthlaspi
Kernera
Koniga
Kremeriella
Lachnocapsa
Lachnoloma
Leavenworthia
Leiospora
Lepia
Lepicochlea
Lepidium
Lepidostemon
Leptaleum
Leptobasis
Leptormus
Lesquerella
Lexarzanthe
Lipophragma
Lithodraba
Litwinowia
Lobularia
Lunaria
Lutzia
Lycocarpus
Lyrocarpa
Macroceratium
Macropodium
Malcolmia
Mancoa
Maresia
Martinsia
Mathewsia
Mathiola
Mathiolaria
Matthiola
Megacarpaea
Megadenia
Melanosinapis
Menkea
Menonvillea
Micrantha
Microlepidium
Microstigma
Microthlaspi
Morettia
Moricandia
Moriera
Morisia
Mostacillastrum
Murbeckiella
Muricaria
Myagrum
Nasturtiopsis
Nasturtium
Neobeckia
Neomartinella
Neotorularia
Nerisyrenia
Neslia
Neuontobotrys
Neurotropis
Nevada
Noccaea
Noccaeopsis
Noccidium
Notoceras
Notothlaspi
Ochthodium
Octoceras
Odontarrhena
Olimarabidopsis
Onuris
Oreoblastus
Oreoloma
Oreophyton
Ormiscus
Ornithocarpa
Orychophragmus
Otocarpus
Pachycladon
Pachydopsis
Pachymitus
Pachyneurum
Pachypodium
Pachypteris
Pachypterygium
Pantorrhynchus
Parlatoria
Parodiodoxa
Parolinia
Parrya
Pastoraea
Paysonia
Pegaeophyton
Peltaria
Peltariopsis
Pennellia
Petiniotia
Petrocallis
Petroravenia
Phaeonychium
Phlebolobium
Phlegmatospermum
Phoenicaulis
Phryne
Physaria
Physocardamum
Physoptychis
Physorhynchus
Planodes
Platycraspedum
Pleiocardia
Polyctenium
Polypsecadium
Porphyrocodon
Pringlea
Prisciana
Pritzelago
Promicrantha
Pseudanastatica
Pseuderucaria
Pseudoarabidopsis
Pseudocamelina
Pseudoclausia
Pseudofortuynia
Pseudosempervivum
Pseudovesicaria
Psychine
Pteroneurum
Pterygostemon
Ptilotrichum
Pugionium
Pycnoplinthopsis
Pycnoplinthus
Quezeliantha
Quidproquo
Radicula
Raffenaldia
Raphanistrum
Raphanorhyncha
Raphanus
Rapistrella
Rapistrosymbrium
Rapistrum
Rhammatophyllum
Rhizobotrya
Ricotia
Robeschia
Romanschulzia
Roripa
Rorippa
Rytidocarpus
Sameraria
Sandbergia
Sarcodraba
Savignya
Scambopus
Schimpera
Schivereckia
Schizopetalon
Schizopetalum
Schoenocrambe
Schouwia
Scoliaxon
Selenia
Semetum
Senebiera
Shangrilaia
Sibara
Sibaropsis
Sinapidendron
Sinapis
Sinosophiopsis
Sisymbrella
Sisymbrianthus
Sisymbrion
Sisymbriopsis
Sisymbrium
Smelowskia
Sobolewskia
Solms-laubachia
Sophia
Sophiopsis
Sphaerocardamum
Spirorhynchus
Spryginia
Stanleya
Stanleyella
Stenopetalum
Stenophragma
Sterigma
Sterigmostemon
Sterigmostemum
Stevenia
Straussiella
Streptanthella
Streptanthus
Streptoloma
Strigosella
Stroganowia
Stubendorffia
Subularia
Succowia
Synstemon
Synthlipsis
Syrenia
Tauscheria
Tchihatchewia
Teesdalia
Teesdaliopsis
Tetracme
Tetrapoma
Tetrapterygium
Thelypodiopsis
Thelypodium
Thlaspi
Thysanocarpus
Tomostima
Torularia
Trachycnemum
Trachystoma
Trichochiton
Trichotolinum
Tropidocarpum
Turrita
Turritis
Vania
Velarum
Vella
Veselskya
Vesicaria
Warea
Weberbauera
Werdermannia
Wilckia
Winklera
Xerodraba
Yinshania
Zerdana
Zilla
Zuvanda
