Mustard family
= Family Brassicaceae
Description
A large family of mostly annual or perrenial herbs, cosmopolitan in distribution, but mainly in the northern temporate regions, the largest diversity in the Mediterranian region and eastwards into central Asia (Cruciferae 1).
The leaves are mostly alternate with characteristic hairs. The flowers are borne in racemes, with 4 sepals and petals, the last ones being arranged in a cross. There are ususally 2 outer stamens and 4 larger inner ones. The ovary is superior. The fruit is a capsule that opens by two valves, a so-called siliqua.
There are almost 400 genera.
Use
The Genus Brassica provides many valuable vegetables, salad plants and oils.
Described species
Brassica sp., cabbage
Brassica alba, white mustard
Brassica nigra, black mustard, see Brassica alba
Brassica juncea, Indian mustard, see Brassica alba
Brassica chinensis, Chinese cabbage, pak-choi
Brassica pekinensis, pe-tsai, see Brassica chinensis
Brassica napus, rape
Brassica rapa, turnip
Brassica oleracea, cabbages, european brassicas
Raphanus sativus, radish, black radish and rettich
Armoracia rusticana, horse-radish, see Raphanus sativus
Eruca sativa, rocket
Lepidium sativum, cress
Nasturtium officinale, watercress