General description:- Annual to perennial herbs, rarely small shrubs.
Leaves:- Alternate, exstipulate.
Flowers:- Usually hermaphrodite, radially symmetrical (actinomorphic), the sepals,
petals and stamens inserted on the receptacle below and free from the ovary
(hypogynous). Sepals 4, free, in 2 at right angles to each other (decussate) pairs.
Petals 4, rarely absent, free, clawed, overlapping (imbricate) or contorted,
alternating with the sepals. Stamens usually 6, rarely 4, 2 or 0, tetradynamous (an
outer pair with short filaments, and 2 inner pairs, 1 posterior and 1 anterior, with
long filaments); filaments sometimes winged or with a tooth-like appendage.
Nectarial glands of various sizes, shapes, colours and dispositions around the base
of the stamens and ovary. Ovary of 2 united carpels, (syncarpous), with 2 parietal
placentas, usually 2-celled (bilocular) through the formation of a membranous false
septum by the union of outgrowths of the placentas, sometimes transversely multi-
celled (plurilocular). Stigma capitate to bilobed.
Fruit:- Usually a capsule splitting open to release the seeds (dehiscent) by 2 valves
from below, called a siliqua when at least 3 times as long as wide or a silicula if
less than 3 times as long as wide; sometimes indehiscent, breaking into 1-seeded
portions or not; rarely transversely articulate with dehiscent and indehiscent
segments; sometimes dividing at maturity into 1-seeded portions (lomentum).
There is great diversity in the form and structure of the fruit in this family, often
affording an easy means of identification, especially in genera which possess a
distinctive siliqua or silicula. The seeds are always inserted in 2 rows in each
loculus, but where the diameter of the seed is approximately the same as that of
the fruit they appear to be in 1 row, and are so described.
Many species in this family, especially among the annuals, are found in Europe
principally or exclusively as weeds of cultivation or as ruderals.Double click to edit
AETHIONEMA
General description:- Glabrous, annuals or perennials.
Leaves:- Entire, sessile.
Flowers:- Inflorescence racemose. Sepals erect, the lateral saccate at the base;
petals entire; the 4 inner stamens with winged and bent filaments, the wing
sometimes ending in a tooth above.
Fruit:- Silicula flattened and winged, bilocular and with narrow partitions
(angustiseptate), with 1-4 seeds in each loculus, opening by 2 valves, or unilocular,
1-seeded and indehiscent.
Key features:-
1) Leaves entire, not ± confined to a basal rosette.
2) Sepals erect
A. SAXATILE Group
General description:- Perennials, often woody at the base.
Stems:- 5-35 cm, ascending to erect, usually simple.
Leaves:- Lower, often opposite, obtuse (rarely retuse), the upper acute or obtuse.
Flowers:- Petals white, pink, purplish or lilac.
Fruit:- Silicula 1- to 8-seeded, emarginate at the apex.
Key features:-
1) Upper leaves not cordate-amplexicaul.
2) At least the lower leaves obtuse.
ALYSSUM
General description:- Annuals to perennials, rarely small shrubs; hairs branched
or stellate, sometimes mixed with unbranched hairs or the covering (indumentum)
of small scales (lepidote).
Stems:- Flowering terminal.
Leaves:- Basal usually similar to the cauline; stalks (petioles) of basal leaves not
grooved, not persistent or swollen at the base.
Flowers:- Buds ellipsoidal or oblong-ellipsoidal; sepals erect, not pouch-shaped
(saccate) at the base; petals yellow, entire to shallowly divided at the tip in two
(bifid); filaments of the long stamens usually winged or toothed, those of the short
stamens usually with an appendage.
Fruit:- A flattened 2-locular capsule with the partition across the broad diameter
(latiseptate) silicula; valves without a conspicuous median vein; style distinct but
often short; stigma capitate or emarginate. Seeds 1 or 2(-8) in each loculus, often
winged or margined.
The indumentum is described as dimorphic when it is composed of appressed
stellate hairs mixed with long, patent, unbranched or branched hairs, or with
stellate hairs with some long, spreading (patent) rays. The measurements given for
the diameter of the stellate hairs are for the usually peltate (round and attached at
or near the centre) tops of these hairs. Basal leaves are those at the base of non-
flowering rosettes or stems.
Key features:-
1) Petals less than 9 mm.
Most species occur in dry, rocky, stony, or sandy places or on cliffs,
Sect. ALYSSUM
General description:- Annuals to perennials.
Flowers:- Inflorescence a simple raceme. Most filaments winged or with
appendages. Ovules 2 in each loculus.
Sect. ODONTARRHENA
General description:- Perennials.
Flowers:- Inflorescence a simple or compound raceme. Filaments with wings or
appendages. Ovules solitary in each loculus.
ARABIDOPSIS
General description:- Annual to perennial; glabrous or with unbranched and
branched hairs.
Leaves:- Entire to pinnatifid.
Flowers:- Sepals not saccate at the base; petals white, pale purple or yellow,
sometimes absent.
Fruit:- A siliqua; valves 1-veined; style short; stigma subcapitate. Seeds small
(less than 1 mm)
Key features:-
1) Basal leaves attenuate at the base.
2) Seeds less than 1 mm, not winged.
3) Siliqua pubescent; at least 10 mm long and up to 1 mm wide.
4) Petals entire or truncate.
5) Inner sepals not saccate at the base.
AUBRIETA
General description:- Perennial herbs; hairs stellate or both stellate and simple or
forked, rarely glabrous.
Leaves:- Simple.
Flowers:- Inner sepals pouch-shaped (saccate); petals pink, purple or violet, long-
clawed. Filaments of the outer stamens with a toothed (dentate) appendage. Style
distinct; stigma pin-headed (capitate).
Fruit:- A siliqua, rarely a silicula; valves with a median vein. Seeds in 2 rows in
each loculus.
1) Silicula sessile.
2) Plant with unbranched, branched or stellate hairs, sometimes mixed with a few
medifixed.
3) Style at least 2·5 mm.
4) Petals pink, purple or violet.
All the species are montane or alpine, occurring on rocks and screes and in open
coniferous woods.
AURINIA
General description:- Perennials, more or less woody at the base; hairs stellate,
branched or with small scales on the surface (lepidote).
Leaves:- Basal leaves considerably larger than the cauline; petioles of basal leaves
grooved on the upper surface, with persistent, swollen bases. Flowering stems
usually axillary.
Flowers:- Buds globose. Sepals erecto-patent (between spreading and erect), not
pouch-shaped (saccate) at the base; petals yellow or white, distinctly notched at
the apex (emarginate) or deeply divided at the tip in two (bifid), sometimes entire;
filaments not winged or toothed, with very small, suborbicular appendage at the
base.
Fruit:- A flattened 2-locular capsule with the partition across the broad diameter
(latiseptate), usually globose silicula; valves without a conspicuous median vein;
style short; stigma pin-headed (capitate). Seeds (1)2-6(-8) in each loculus, usually
winged.
BARBAREA
General description:- Biennials to perennials (rarely annuals); glabrous or with
unbranched hairs
Leaves:- Pinnatifid or pinnatisect, the cauline auriculate.
Flowers:-
1) Inner sepals slightly saccate at the base.
2) Petals yellow, indistinctly clawed.
Fruit:-
1) A siliqua, terete to 4-angled.
2) Valves usually with a strong median vein and reticulate lateral veins.
3) Style distinct; stigma entire or slightly 2-lobed.
4) Seeds in 1 row in each loculus.
Key features:-
1) Siliqua not attenuate, keeled; not or only slightly torulose.
2) Seeds in 1 row in each loculus. ovoid, ellipsoidal or oblong, not mucilaginous.
All species occur usually in wet or damp habitats, and some are weeds or ruderals
BISCUTELLA
General description:- Annuals, perennials or small shrubs.
Leaves:- Entire to pinnatifid leaves.
Flowers:- Petals usually clawed, yellow.
Fruit:- A strongly compressed silicula, divided into two lobes (didymous),
indehiscent but with the 1-seeded loculi eventually breaking away from the axis;
valves glabrous or with simple or clavate hairs; style long. Seeds unwinged.
Key features:-
1) Silicula didymous; flat; not articulated.
2) Petals yellow.
3) Style long.
BRASSICA
General description:- Annuals to perennials or small shrubs.
Leaves:- Entire or divided, the divisions extending from about half to two-thirds of
the way towards the midrib (pinnatipartite).
Flowers:- Sepals erect or spreading (patent), the inner larger than the outer; petals
yellow or white, clawed. Gynophore (a stalk carrying the ovary) short or absent.
Fruit:- A siliqua with a long or short beak; valves convex, with a prominent median
vein. Seeds usually in 1 row in each loculus, at least in the basal ½ of the siliqua,
globose or rarely ellipsoidal.
1) Valves of the siliqua 1-veined, sometimes with reticulate lateral veins, or without
veins.
2) Siliqua not more than 7 times as long as wide, with a beak at least 5 mm.
3) Lower leaves lobed, sinuate-dentate or sinuate-crenate.
4) Sepals erecto-patent or patent.
5) Cauline leaves toothed or lobed, rarely entire, then not amplexicaul.
6) Leaves all or nearly all basal.
7) Flowering stem leafy.
8) Valves of the siliqua rounded on the back.
9) Seeds globose; in 1 row in each loculus.
BUNIAS
General description:- Annuals to perennials; glabrous or with glandular,
unbranched or branched hairs.
Leaves:- Entire to pinnatisect.
Flowers:- Sepals erecto-patent, the inner not or scarcely saccate at the base;
petals white or yellow.
Fruit:- An indehiscent silicula with irregular longitudinal wings, ridges or
protuberances, and with 1-4 1-seeded loculi; style distinct; stigma capitate.
1) Silicula without 2 sterile loculi side by side.
2) Silicula with 4 longitudinal wings or ridges or covered with irregular
protuberances.
CAKILE
General description:- Glabrous, annuals, covered with a waxy bloom (glaucous).
Leaves:- Succulent.
Flowers:- Petals clawed, violet, pink or white.
Fruit:- A transversely articulate siliqua; upper segment larger, ovoid, more or less
4-angled, not attenuate into style, with 1(2) seeds; lower obconical, not evidently 2-
valved, usually with a single seed, indehiscent.
1) Valves of the siliqua 1-veined, sometimes with reticulate lateral veins, or without
veins.
2) Siliqua with a distinct transverse articulation, the lower segment sometimes
sterile and stipitiform.
3) Plant with obvious aerial stem.
4) Pedicels not curving downwards to bury the fruit.
5) Upper segment of fruit oblong-ovoid, mostly at least twice as long as wide.
CALEPINA
General description:- Annuals to perennials; glabrous or with unbranched hairs.
Flowers:- Sepals erecto-patent; petals white, with a short claw or cuneate at the
base; filaments without appendages.
Fruit:- A transversely articulate silicula; ovoid-globose ending in a short, thick beak;
lower segment absent, sterile, forming a stalk together with the gynophore; upper
segment ovoid to globose, not splitting open to release their seeds (indehiscent),
and falling early (caducous), with a single pendent seed; stigma sessile.
Key features:-
1) Upper segment of the fruit beaked, or with a distinct persistent style.
2) Cauline leaves amplexicaul, with acute auricles.
3) Plant green, glabrous or sparsely hairy.
4) Silicula with a short, broad, obtuse beak.
5) Petals unequal, the inner distinctly longer than the outer.
CAPSELLA
General description:- Annuals or biennials; glabrous or with branched and
unbranched hairs.
Leaves:- Basal entire to pinnatifid; cauline leaves sagittate-amplexicaul.
Flowers:- Inflorescence racemose, ebracteate. Sepals erect, not saccate; petals
white, pink or yellowish; stamens without appendages.
Fruit:- An angusti-septate (with narrow partitions) silicula, usually triangular-
obcordate; valves keeled, reticulately veined; style distinct; stigma minute, pin-
headed (capitate). Seeds up to 12 in each loculus.
Key features:-
1) Valves of fruit not winged or keeled, or with a weak keel.
2) Fruits triangular-obcordate.
The species are usually plants of cultivated or waste ground.
CARDAMINE
General description:- Annuals to perennials; glabrous or with simple hairs.
Leaves:- Simple to pinnate.
Flowers:- Inner sepals pouch-shaped (saccate) or not. Petals white, pink or purple
(rarely pale yellow). Style short or distinct; stigma slightly 2-lobed.
Fruit:- A strongly compressed siliqua; valves coiling spirally from the base at
dehiscence, veinless or with an indistinct median vein; Seeds in 1 row in each
loculus.
1) Siliqua more than 7 times as long as wide, strongly compressed.
2) Valves flat, coiling spirally from the base on dehiscence.
CARRICHTERA
General description:- Annual with unbranched hairs
Leaves:- Simple.
Flowers:- Inflorescence leaf-opposed. Sepals erect; filaments free.
Fruit:- A transversely articulate, deflexed silicula, lower segment ellipsoidal, with 2
naviculiform, 3-veined valves, upper segment sterile, strongly compressed,
foliaceous, cochleariform.
Key features:-
1) Fruit pendent or patent, not more than 8 mm.
CLYPEOLA
General description:- Annuals; hairs branched or stellate.
Flowers:- Sepals erecto-patent, not pouch-shaped (saccate); petals yellow, shortly
clawed.
Fruit:- An indehiscent, compressed, 1-seeded, pendent silicula; style short; stigma
obtuse.
Key features:-
1) Fruit not convex beneath and not concave with incurved margins above.
2) Hairs branched or stellate.
3) Petals yellow.
CORONOPUS
General description:- Annuals to perennials, or with unbranched hairs.
Flowers:- Raceme leaf-opposed. Sepals patent; petals white, small or absent;
stamens 2-6.
Fruit:- An angusti-septate silicula, indehiscent or breaking in 2 halves; valves
subglobose, verrucose or reticulate. Seeds 2.
CRAMBE
General description:- Annuals to perennials; glabrous or with unbranched hairs.
Flowers:- Sepals between spreading and erect (erecto-patent); petals white, with a
short claw or wedge-shaped (cuneate) at the base; filaments of inner stamens
usually with a tooth-like appendage.
Fruit:- A transversely articulate silicula; lower segment short, sterile, forming a
stalk together with the gynophore; upper segment ovoid to globose, indehiscent,
falling off early (caducous), with a single pendent seed; stigma sessile.
DESCURAINIA
General description:- Annual or biennial; hairs of 2 kinds, dendritic and
unbranched.
Leaves:- 2- to 4-pinnatisect.
Flowers:- Sepals not saccate; petals pale yellow, smaller than the sepals. Style
very short; stigma subcapitate.
Fruit:- A siliqua; valves with a distinct median vein. Seeds small (not more than 1
mm), not mucilaginous when moistened.
Key features:-
1) Siliqua without horns at the apex.
2) Leaves 2- to 4-pinnatisect.
3) Petals shorter than the sepals.
4) Siliqua 0·5-1 mm wide.
5) Seeds 0·8-1 mm.
DIDESMUS
General description:- Annuals to perennials, with unbranched hairs.
Flowers:- Sepals erectopatent; petals white, with a short claw.
Fruit:- A transversely articulate silicula; lower segment cylindrical, with (0)1-3
seeds upper segment of silicula as wide as the lower segment, tetragonal;
indehiscent, falling (caducous) at maturity, with a single erect seed; beak long,
pungent..
Key features:-
1) Cauline leaves not amplexicaul.
2) Petals white.
3) Upper segment of fruit with a pungent beak.
DIPLOTAXIS
General description:- Annuals to perennials.
Leaves:- Entire to pinnatipartite.
Flowers:- Sepals erecto-patent; petals clawed, usually yellow. Gynophore usually
short.
Fruit:- An elongate, linear siliqua with a short beak; valves compressed, with a
prominent median vein. Seeds usually in 2 rows in each loculus, ovoid or
ellipsoidal.
Key features:-
1) Valves with distinct median vein.
2) Seeds in 2 or more rows in each loculus.
3) Siliqua with a distinct beak or style up to 7 mm.
4) Cauline leaves cuneate or hastate at the base.
DRABA
General description:- Annuals to perennials.
Leaves:- Simple, entire or dentate.
Flowers:- Sepals erecto-patent (between spreading and erect), the inner not or
only slightly pouch-shaped (saccate) at the base; petals white or yellow, entire or
distinctly notched at the apex (emarginate); filaments not or only slightly dilated at
the base.
Fruit:- A flattened 2-locular capsule with the partition across the broad diameter
(latiseptate) silicula or siliqua; valves more or less flat, with a median vein in the
lower ½; stigma pin-headed (capitate). Seeds in 2 rows in each loculus, not
winged. Radicle accumbent.
Most of the species are arctic or montane, growing in open, rocky or gravelly
places. Several are widely grown for ornament as rock-plants in gardens.
The nature and density of the indumentum is used a great deal in the taxonomy of
Draba. The hairs may be unbranched, branched, stellate or medifixed. The leaves
are nearly always ciliate even when they are otherwise glabrous. The length of the
stem refers to the fruiting stage; there is often considerable elongation after
flowering.
Key features:-
1) Leaves simple, usually entire, linear to narrowly spathulate, rarely obovate.
2) Cauline leaves cuneate to truncate at the base, not amplexicaul.
3) Leafless stem bearing flowers (scape), rarely with few cauline leaves.
4) Siliqua 3-7 times as long as wide.
5) Radicle accumbent; usually with at least some stellate or branched hairs.
6) Petals entire or emarginate, not more than 8 mm.
7) Valves of the silicula ± flat.
8) Seeds in two rows and numerous in each loculus, ovules also numerous.
9) Filaments of the inner stamens not winged.
Sect. AIZOPSIS
General description:- Scapose, caespitose perennials, often densely pulvinate (a
swelling on the petiole that functions to allow the leaf movement).
Leaves:- Rigid, entire, linear or narrowly spathulate, arranged in a rosette
(rosulate), margins fringed with hairs (ciliate).
Flowers:- Yellow.
Sect. DRABELLA
General description:- Annuals, biennials or perennials, with leafy stems and
small, pale yellow to white flowers. Style very short.
ENARTHROCARPUS
General description:- Annuals, with unbranched hairs.
Flowers:- Raceme bracteate. Sepals erecto-patent (between spreading and erect);
petals clawed, yellow, with violet veins.
Fruit:- A transversely articulate, non-septate siliqua; the lower segment 2-valved,
indehiscent, seedless or with 1 or 2 seeds; the upper segment linear, elongate,
caducous, with 3-15 seeds, constricted between the seeds and separating into 1-
seeded portions.
Key features:-
1) Cauline leaves not cordate-amplexicaul, usually toothed or lobed
2) Siliqua with a short stipitate segment at the base, separated from the rest of the
siliqua by an articulation
3) Racemes bracteate, at least in the lower ½.
ERUCA
General description:- Annuals or perennials.
Leaves:- Pinnatifid or pinnatisect.
Flowers:- Sepals erect, unequal, the inner somewhat saccate at the base; petals
yellow, clawed.
Fruit:- A siliqua with a long beak; valves distinctly 1-veined. Seeds in 2 rows in
each loculus, globose.
Key features:-
1) Fruit with 2 segments, the upper flat, leaf-like (foliaceous) or tongue-shaped
(lingulate), the lower with 1 or 2 seeds.
2) Filaments free.
3) Fruit erect or erecto-patent (between spreading and erect), 12-35 mm.
4) Siliqua with a beak 5-12 mm, shorter than the rest of the siliqua; seeds in 2 rows
in each loculus.
ERUCARIA
General description:- Annual or biennial; hairs unbranched.
Flowers:- Sepals erect; petals with a long claw, lilac.
Fruit:- A transversely articulate siliqua with both segments fertile, the lower 2-valved
and dehiscent, the upper abruptly contracted into the style.
Key features:-
1) Petals purple.
2) Siliqua not more than 2 cm, erect and closely appressed to the stem.
ERYSIMUM
General description:- Annuals to perennials, with branched hairs.
Flowers:- Sepals erect, the inner usually pouch-shaped (saccate) at the base;
petals yellow, rarely purple or brownish, long-clawed; median nectaries usually
present.
Fruit:- A siliqua valves usually 1-veined, the hairs not lying transversely across the
valves; style distinct, not more than 1/3 as long as the rest of the siliqua, rarely
absent; stigma usually weakly 2-lobed. Seeds in 1(2) rows in each loculus.
Distinguishing features:-
1) Inner sepals strongly saccate at the base.
2) Filaments all free.
3) Siliqua not articulated; usually more than 0·8 mm wide.
4) Plant ± densely covered with hairs attached at or near the middle (medifixed).
5) Style at least 2 mm in fruit.
6) Flowering stem leafy.
7) Petals white, pink or purple.
FIBIGIA
General description:- Perennials; hairs mostly stellate, rarely a few simple.
Flowers:- Sepals erect; petals yellow, shortly clawed.
Fruit:- Fruit a strongly compressed latiseptate silicula; valves flat, not veined; style
long; stigma more or less capitate. Seeds 2-8 in each loculus, winged.
Key features:-
1) Petals short-clawed; yellow or white
2) Silicula compressed
HORNUNGIA
General description:- Small annuals; hairs stellate or absent.
Flowers:- Inflorescence ebracteate. Petals white, short-clawed.
Fruit:- A silicula laterally compressed with a narrow septum (angustiseptate)
(dividing wall or enclosure), elliptical to oblong-ovate. Seeds 1 or 2 in each loculus,
slimy (mucilaginous).
HYMENOLOBUS
General description:- Small perennials with unbranched hairs.
Flowers:-
1) Inflorescence ebracteate.
2) Petals white, clawed.
Fruit:-
1) Silicula, elliptical to lanceolate. flattened at right angles to the septum so the
septum crosses the narrowest part of the ovary (angusti-septate).
2) Seeds 3-10 in each loculus; hairs unbranched when present.
3) Valves of fruit ± strongly compressed.
IBERIS
General description:- Annuals or perennials, rarely dwarf shrubs; glabrous or with
unbranched hairs.
Flowers:- Inflorescence corymbose or racemose, often elongating in fruit. Sepals
not saccate; petals white, pink or purple, the 2 outer much larger than the 2 inner;
median nectaries absent.
Fruit:- An angusti-septate silicula; valves keeled and usually winged at the apex;
style long; stigma capitate. Seeds solitary in each loculus, often winged.
Key features:-
1) Seeds solitary in each loculus.
All species are usually found in calcareous habitats.
LEPIDIUM
General description:- Annuals to perennials, sometimes small shrubs; papillose
or with usually unbranched hairs.
Flowers:- Small, in dense, terminal, ebracteate racemes. Sepals not saccate;
petals white (rarely yellow or absent); stamens 2, 4 or 6. Style short or absent.
Fruit:- An angusti-septate (with narrow partitions) silicula; valves strongly keeled,
winged. Seeds usually 2, one pendent from the apex of each loculus.
Key features:-
1) Style short or absent.
Sect. LEPIA
Leaves:- Middle and upper cauline leaves amplexicaul.
Flowers:- Stamens 6.
Fruit:- Silicula broadly winged above, the wing connate with the lower part of the
style.
Sect. LEPIOCARDAMON
Leaves:- Cauline leaves not clasping the stem (amplexicaul).
Flowers:- Stamens 6.
Fruit:- Silicula obovate, very deeply notched, broadly winged above.
Sect. DILEPTIUM
Leaves:- Cauline leaves not amplexicaul.
Flowers:- Stamens 2-4
Fruit:- Silicula, not winged, or, if narrowly winged above, then with the style quite
free and not exceeding the apical notch.
LOBULARIA
General description:- Annuals or perennials, hairs bifid.
Flowers:-
1) Sepals patent, not saccate at the base.
2) Petals usually white, entire.
3) Filaments not winged and without appendages.
Fruit:-
1) A latiseptate silicula;
2) Valves slightly inflated, with a more or less distinct median vein.
3) Style distinct.
4) Stigma capitate.
5) Seeds 1-5 in each loculus.
LUNARIA
General description:- Biennials or perennials; hairs simple.
Leaves:- Simple, toothed.
Flowers:- Sepals erect, the inner saccate at the base; petals long-clawed. Style
long; stigma slightly lobed.
Fruit:- A silicula, strongly compressed, latiseptate (flattened 2-locular capsule with
the partition across the broad diameter).
Key features:-
1) Terrestrial or, if aquatic, not scapose.
2) Ovary without a glandular ring.
3) Glabrous or with unbranched hairs.
4) Sepals erect or nearly so (calyx closed).
5) Petals at least 10 mm, red, purple or rarely white;
6) Silicula at least 20 mm.
LUTZIA
General description:- Perennials; hairs branched or stellate.
Flowers:- Sepals erect or erecto-patent, the inner saccate at the base; petals
yellow, long-clawed. Style long; stigma capitate or emarginate.
Fruit:- A silicula latiseptate, (flattened 2-locular capsule with the partition across
the broad diameter); valves inflated, without a conspicuous median vein; Seeds 4-8
in each loculus, usually winged.
Key features:-
1) Silicula dehiscent, variously shaped, not reticulate-rugose.
2) Silicula with a stem-like structure (stipitate).
3) Valves of the silicula not reticulately veined.
4) Cauline leaves not sagittate-amplexicaul.
5) Petals at least 12 mm.
6) Seeds and ovules 4-8 in each loculus.
MALCOLMIA
General description:- Annuals to perennials; hairs variable or plant subglabrous.
Flowers:- Sepals erect, the inner usually pouch-shape (saccate) at the base;
petals pink to violet, rarely white, long-clawed; median nectaries absent. Stigma
deeply 2-lobed or with a with rounded indentation at the apex (retuse), the lobes
erect and united (connate). Style absent or indistinct.
Fruit:- A siliqua; valves 3-veined; Seeds in 1 row in each loculus.
Key features:-
1) Lobes of the stigma erect, connate.
MATTHIOLA
General description:- Annuals to perennials; hairs branched.
Flowers:- Sepals erect, the inner saccate at the base; petals purple, white, or
yellowish, long-clawed. Style absent; stigma deeply 2-lobed, the lobes erect, each
with a dorsal swelling or horn.
Fruit:- A siliqua; valves 1-veined; Seeds in 1 row in each loculus.
Key features:-
1) Hairs stellate, branched, or a mixture of branched and unbranched.
2) Stigma deeply 2-lobed, the lobes sometimes erect and connate to form a beak
on the siliqua.
3) Lobes of the stigma with a dorsal swelling or horn.
A number of species are cultivated for ornament.
RICOTIA
General description:- Annuals or perennials; glabrous or with unbranched hairs.
Leaves:- Entire to pinnatisect.
Flowers:- Sepals erect, the inner saccate at the base; petals pink or violet,
clawed.
Stigma pin-headed (capitate). Style short.
Fruit:- A pendent siliqua or latiseptate silicula.
THLASPI/MICROTHLAPSI
General description:- Annuals or perennials, hairs unbranched or absent.
Leaves:- Stalkless (sessile), cauline leaves more or less stalk-clasping
(amplexicaul).
Flowers:- Inflorescence racemose, ebracteate. Sepals erect, not pouch-shaped
(saccate); petals usually white or purplish, shortly clawed; stamens without
appendages. Stigma pin-headed (capitate), somewhat 2-lobed.
Fruit:- An angusti-septate (narrow partitioned) silicula, with or without an apical
notch, the valves keeled and usually winged; Seeds 1-8 in each loculus.
Key features:-
1) Inflorescence ebracteate.
2) Seeds solitary or 2-8 in each loculus.
3) Style 0·7-3 mm.
Sect. THLASPI
Fruit:- Silicula obovate or orbicular, plano-convex, narrowly to broadly winged, with
or without a notch; style included to exserted.
Key features:-
1) Petals at least 5 mm, pink or violet.
2) Fruit at least 10 mm, neither reticulately veined nor emarginate.
NASTURTIUM
General description:- Perennials; glabrous or with few unbranched hairs.
Leaves:- Pinnate to pinnatisect (divided into more than three leaflets or lobes, the
divisions extending almost to the midrib).
Flowers:- Petals white, rarely pale purplish. Style short; stigma pin-headed
(capitate), slightly 2-lobed.
Fruit:- A siliqua, valves with weak median vein; Seeds in 1 or 2 rows in each
loculus. Radicle (the first root arising from the germinating seed) accumbent.
Key features:-
1) Stem glabrous.
2) Radicle accumbent.
3) Leaves pinnate.
4) Siliqua not more than 30 mm.
5) Pedicels up to 10 mm or more in fruit, thinner than the siliqua.
NESLIA
General description:- Annuals; hairs branched.
Leaves:- Simple.
Flowers:- Inflorescence an ebracteate raceme. Sepals erect, not saccate; petals
yellow; stamens without appendages.
Fruit:- An indehiscent, latiseptate silicula; style distinct; stigma minute, slightly 2-
lobed. Seeds 1-3.
1) Hairy, at least some of the hairs branched or stellate.
2) Sepals erect (calyx closed).
3) Silicula indehiscent, subglobose or sometimes compressed reticulate-rugose.
THLAPSI/NOCCAEA
General description:- Annuals or perennials.
Leaves:-
1) Cauline sessile, more or less amplexicaul; hairs unbranched or absent.
Flower:-
1) Inflorescence racemose, ebracteate.
2) Sepals erect, not saccate.
3) Petals usually white or purplish, shortly clawed.
4) Stamens without appendages.
Fruit:-
1) An angusti-septate silicula, with or without an apical notch.
2) valves keeled and usually winged.
3) Stigma capitate, somewhat 2-lobed.
4) Seeds 1-8 in each loculus.
RAPHANUS
General description:- Annuals to perennials.
Flowers:- Raceme ebracteate. Sepals erect; petals abruptly contracted into a
claw; filaments without appendages.
Fruit:- A transversely articulate siliqua; lower segment very short, slender,
seedless, indehiscent; upper circular in section, straight-sided, or lomentaceous (at
least in part), or constricted between the seeds but not breaking up into 1-seeded
portions; beak narrow, seedless.
Key features:-
1) Racemes ebracteate.
2) Leaves longer than wide, entire to pinnate, not cordate.
3) Lower segment of fruit indehiscent, either sterile and stipitate or very small with
0-2 seeds.
RAPISTRUM
General description:- Annuals to perennials, with unbranched hairs.
Flowers:- Sepals erecto-patent; petals yellow, with a short claw.
Fruit:- A transversely articulate silicula; lower segment cylindrical, with (0)1-3
seeds upper segment ovoid to globose, wider than the lower, indehiscent,
caducous at maturity, with a single erect seed; beak conical or filiform.
Key features:-
1) Petals yellow.
2) Upper segment of fruit variously ribbed, but not winged, usually glabrous or with
appressed hairs, not pungent.
SINAPIS
General description:- Annuals or perennials.
Leaves:- Partly or wholly divided into lobes (pinnatifid or pinnatisect).
Flowers:- Sepals spreading (patent), equal or subequal; petals yellow, clawed.
Fruit:- A siliqua with a long beak; valves distinctly 3- to 7-veined. Seeds in 1 row in
each loculus, globose.
Key features:-
1) Siliqua with a beak at least 7 mm.
SISYMBRIUM
General description:- Annuals to perennials; glabrous or with unbranched hairs.
Leaves:- Entire to pinnate.
Flowers:- Sepals not saccate at the base; petals yellow, rarely white, entire.
Fruit:- A siliqua; valves usually 3-veined; style distinct or indistinct; stigma more or
less 2-lobed. Seeds small (usually less than 2·5 mm).
1) Cauline leaves not amplexicaul.
2) Most flowers subtended by a bract.
3) Sepals patent or erecto-patent.
4) Siliqua not beaked, with a style not exceeding 2(-4) mm.
Many of the widespread lowland species occur as weeds, and are often of uncertain
status in many parts of Europe.
Sect. CHAMAEPLIUM
1) Inflorescence usually bracteate.
2) Petals pale yellow.
3) Valves of the siliqua 3-veined.
Sect. IRIO
Flowers:- Inflorescence ebracteate. Petals yellow.
Fruit:- Valves of the siliqua 3-veined.
Sect. SISYMBRIUM
Flowers:- Inflorescence ebracteate. Petals yellow.
Fruit:- Siliqua patent, with 80-120 seeds.
Sect. VELARUM
Flowers:- Inflorescence ebracteate. Petals yellow.
Fruit:- Siliqua closely appressed to the stem.
TEESDALIA
General description:- Annuals; glabrous or with unbranched hairs.
Leaves:- Mostly basal, usually pinnatifid.
Flowers:- Sepals erecto-patent; petals white; stamens 4 or 6, the filaments with a
white basal scale.
Fruit:- An angusti-septate silicula, obtuse or obcordate, with thin-walled valves,
narrowly winged in the upper part; style very short or absent. Seeds (1)2 in each
loculus.
Key features:-
1) Style inconspicuous, up to 0·3 mm.
2) Annual.
3) Stigma 2-lobed.
4) Petals (when present) equal in size.
5) Filaments with a wing or tooth-like appendage.
6) Leaves usually pinnatifid, mostly confined to a basal rosette.
7) Sepals erectopatent.