All of the species in the family Brassicaceae in New England are annual, biennial, or perennial herbs. An alternate name for this family is the Cruciferae, derived from its cross-shaped flower parts. Leaves are usually alternate and may be simple, or are sometimes divided into lobes. The foliage in some species has unusual, branched or star-shaped hairs. The flowers have both pollen-bearing and ovule-bearing parts and are radially symmetrical. They have 4 sepals and 4 petals; the sepals are often shed early. The petals and sepals are attached below the ovary. There are usually 6 stamens. The fruit is a specialized capsule with 2 valves; it is usually dry and membranous and may or may not split open naturally to release the seeds. The shape of the fruit varies greatly by species.
This family’s genera in New England
- Alliaria
- Alyssum
- Arabidopsis
- Arabis
- Armoracia
- Aurinia
- Barbarea
- Berteroa
- Boechera
- Brassica
- Braya
- Bunias
- Cakile
- Camelina
- Capsella
- Cardamine
- Chorispora
- Conringia
- Descurainia
- Diplotaxis
- Draba
- Eruca
- Erucastrum
- Erysimum
- Euclidium
- Hesperis
- Iberis
- Lepidium
- Lobularia
- Lunaria
- Nasturtium
- Neslia
- Raphanus
- Rapistrum
- Rorippa
- Sinapis
- Sisymbrium
- Subularia
- Teesdalia
- Thlaspi
- Tropidocarpum
- Turritis
Visit this family in the Dichotomous Key
