Brassicaceae -- the mustard family (350/3000, Distribution: Huge family in the temperate areas of the Northern Hemisphere)
Habit herbs (sometimes woody or even shrubby)
Leaves alternate, simple to pinnately lobed to compound, estipulate
Inflorescences racemes
Special floral characteristics flowers extremely distinctive with 4 cruciform petals and sepals, tetradynamous stamens, fruit a peculiar capsule (silique if 3 X longer than wide OR silicle)
Calyx 4 sepals, distinct
Corolla 4 petals, distinct
Androecium 6 stamens: 4 with long filaments and 2 with short filaments (=tetradynamous), distinct
Gynoecium 2 carpels, connate; ovary superior with 2 locules & 1-many parietal ovules, false membranous septum (=replum) divides ovary; style 1
Fruit = silicle, silique, sometimes indehiscent
(Floral formula: Ca 4 Co 4 A 4+2 G 2 )