Description of the family:
Annual, biennial or perennial herbs. Stipules 0. Leaves alternate. Flowers in racemes, usually bisexual, hypogynous, actinomorphic. Sepals 4, free, in 2 series. Petals 4 (rarely 0). Stamens 6 (inner 4 long, outer 2 short). Ovary 2-locular. Style 1. Stigmas 2. Fruit dry, usually a dehiscent siliqua or silicula, opening from below by 2 valves, sometimes breaking into segments transversely, sometimes indehiscent.
Comment:
A family of predominantly introduced weeds, most of which are rather rare casuals. The name crucifer means "cross bearing", a reference to the cross shape made by the 4 petals. Closely related to the Capparaceae.
Worldwide:
365 genera and 3,250 species, cosmopolitan but especially in temperate areas (Mediterranean to C Asia, Western N America).
Zimbabwe:
14 genera and 24 taxa.
- Brassica L.
- Capsella Medik.
- Cardamine L.
- Carrichtera DC.
- Coronopus Zinn
- Eruca Mill.
- Erucastrum (DC.) C. Presl
- Lepidium L.
- Lobularia Desv.
- Raphanus L.
- Rapistrum Crantz
- Rorippa Scop.
- Sinapis L.
- Sisymbrium L.