Brassicaceae
Mustard and
Cabbage Family
By Nolan Deitrich
Erysimum capitatum (Western
wallflower)
Family Description
The Brassicaceae is also called the
mustard and cabbage family. There are over 350 genera and 3,000 species
of this family. The old name for this family is Cruciferae,
due to its cross-shaped flowers. This family is mostly herbs
which have flowers with parts in 4’s, cross-shaped petals, silique
(long, narrow) fruits, and contain glucosinolates (Nitrogen-containing
defense compounds). There are 26 genera located in Kansas.
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Worldwide
Distribution
Brassicaceae is found all over the
world.
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Habitats
Brassicaceae can be found in
temperate and cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere, centered mainly
in the Mediterrnean, Central and Southwest Asia.
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Economic Importance
Brassicaceae provides much of the
world’s winter vegetables. These vegetables include collard
greens, cabbage, radishes, cauliflower, broccoli, and brussels
sprouts. Some other well known members are mustard seed and
horseradish. The mustard family is found worldwide and consists
of plants with annual, bi-annual and perennial life spans. While some
members of the Brassicaceae have seeds with a high erucic acid content,
making these unsafe to eat in large doses, all members of the family
are edible, although some do taste better than others.
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Weeds
Even though the mustard family is
mostly herbs, they can exist as weeds: Capsella bursa-pastoris -
shepherd's purse, Thlaspi -
penny cress, and Lepidium pepper
grass are some examples of some pest species.
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Phylogenetic position
This is the brassicales segment of
the phylogenetic tree.
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Scientific
Classification
Kingdom- Plantae
Phylum-
Magnoliophyta
Class- Magnoliopsida
Order- Brassicales
Family- Brassicaceae
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Local KS
Representatives
Camelina
microcarpa (Small Seeded False
Flax) Capsella
bursa-pastoris (Sheperd’s purse)
Brassica
juncea (Indian
Mustard) Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (Watercress)
Hesperis
matronalis (Dame’s
Rocket) Thlaspi arvense
(Field pennycress)
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Sources
http://academic.reed.edu/biology/Courses/BIO332/plantfamily/family_info/Brassicaceae.html
Systematic Botany, Dr. Vic Landrum,
3rd Edition, p 162
http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Research/APweb/orders/brassicalesweb.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brassicaceae
http://www.lib.ksu.edu/wildflower/
