Brassicaceae

Non-woody (herbaceous) plants with 4 separate petals that often are positioned so they collectively resemble a cross, and are much narrower at the base, and their fruit is a capsule or berry. A large and diverse family containing many common weeds, familiar ornamentals and food plants such as Cabbage and Turnip. Mostly terrestrial but also a few aquatics. Some plants in this family may be challenging to identify to unique species.

Leaves usually alternate or spiral, sometimes in basal rosettes, simple, often dissected, lobed or compound, leaf margins smooth or saw-toothed. Stipules present or absent. Produce mustard oils and often produce cyanide. Hairs diverse, simple to branched, star-shaped or umbrella-shaped.

Flowers with 4 separate petals that often are positioned so they collectively resemble a cross, and are much narrower at the base. Commonly white, yellow, or pale to dark purple, mostly arranged in elongating racemes, rarely solitary. Individual flowers mostly with radial symmetry, usually producing both pollen and seeds, and often with no bracts at their bases. Sepals 4, separate; stamens usually 6 (2 short outer ones, 4 long inner ones). Carpels 2, fused, ovary 1, superior, normally 2-chambered; style 1. Fruit usually a specialized capsule containing several seeds (silicle or silique), mostly opening from the bottom up by 2 valves, exposing their thin persistent partition.