An important statements in the book Flowers of Himalaya regarding this
family.
"Ripe fruits are necessary for the identification of both genera and
species.
Many genera are differentiated by small and often obscure botanical
characters, particularly of the fruit, about which experts do not always
agree;"
*Reproducing a KEY from FOH by Polunin and Stainton*
Fruit short, a silicula(Less than 3 times as long as broad)
a) Leaves entire, or toothed. 1BRAYA 2 CRAMBE 3 DRABA 4 ISATIS 5 LEPIDIUM
6 PEGAEOPHYTON 7 THLASPI
b) Leaves deeply lobed 8 MEGACARPAEA
Fruit long, a siliqua(More than 3 times as long as broad)
a) Leaves entire or toothed
i) Flowers white violet,purple or pink 9 ARABIDOPSIS 10ARABIS 11
ARCYOSPERMA 12 CHRISTOLEA 13 ERMANIA 14 MATTHIOLA 15 PHAEONYCHIUM 16
PYCHNOPLINTHOPSIS
ii) Flowers yellow ororange 17 ERYSIMUM
b) Leaves deeply lobed, or compound
i) Flowers white violet or pink 18CARDAMINE 19 CHORISPORA 20
LIGNARIELLA 21 PARRYA 22RAPHANUS 23 RORIPPA
ii) Flowers yellow 24 BARBAREA 25 BRASSICA
Dr Satish Phadke
On Tue, Nov 6, 2012 at 8:28 PM, Satish Phadke <[email protected]> wrote:
> In Maharashtra the family has following genera under it.(BSI Mah Flora)
> Farsetia
> Eruca
> Brassica
> Sisymbrium
> Cardamine
> Nasturtium
> Rorippa
> Schouwia
> Iberis
> Thlaspi
> Gapsella
> Lepidium
> Cochlearia
> Coronopus.
>
>
> Dr Satish Phadke
>
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 6, 2012 at 8:21 PM, Satish Phadke <[email protected]>wrote:
>
>>
>> *Brassicaceae(Crusiferae) Mustard family
>> *
>> The family contains over 330 genera and about 3,700 species, according to
>> the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
>> Annual, biennial or perennial herbs (Rarely under shrubs) with watery
>> sap,(pungent juice)containing glucosinolates (mustard oils) and with
>> myoresin cells.Hairs simple branches stellate or peltate.
>> *Vegetative characters :*
>> *Leaves* : alternate or in basal rosettes,radical or cauline,simple
>> often dissected, rarely pinnately compound sometimes bearing bulbils in
>> axils or leaf surface. Stipules absent.
>> *Inflorescence* : Typically racemose, corumbose raceme or flat topped
>> corymb.
>> *Flowers* : ebracteate, rarely bracteate.bisexual actinomorphic rarely
>> zygomorphic hypogynous.
>> *Calyx* : with 4 sepals free in two whorls.Sepals of lateral pair
>> sometimes saccate at base green or petalloid.
>> *Corolla* : 4 petals cruciform, clawed.
>> *Androecium* : stamens 6 free tetradinamous(2 short 4 long) dehiscence
>> longitudinal.Nectaries often at base of stamens, pollen grains tricolpate.
>> *Gynoecium* : Two united carpels (thus single pistil) syncarpous
>> unilocular.Ovary superior.Gynophore distinct.Style 1 stigmas 2.
>> *Fruit* : Siliqua or silicula
>> *Pollination* : by insects and dispersal of seeds by wind.
>> *Examples*:
>> Family contributes to many food plants
>> Radish (*Raphenous sativus*)
>> Cabbage (*Brassica oleracea* var : capitata)
>> Cauliflower (*Brassica oleracea* var : botrytis)
>> Brussels sprouts
>> Turnip
>> *Brassiaca campestris* : seeds yield mustard oil used for cooking
>> *Brassica nigra* : black variety seeds used as condiment.
>> Common ornamentals include: stock(*Mathiola*) candy tuft(*Iberis amara*)
>> alyssum(*Alyssum*) wall flower(*Erysimum*) and street alyssum(*Lobularia)
>> *
>>
>> http://satishphadke.blogspot.in/search?q=brassicaceae
>> Dr Satish Phadke
>>
>
>
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