What is "brassicaceae"

Brassicaceae \Brassicaceae\ n. a natural family of plants with four-petaled flowers.

Syn: Cruciferae, family Cruciferae, family Brassicaceae, mustard family.

The Brassicaceae are a medium-sized and economically important family of flowering plants ( angiosperms), informally known as the mustards, the mustard flowers, the crucifers, or the cabbage family.

The name Brassicaceae is derived from the included genus Brassica. An older name, Cruciferae , meaning "cross-bearing", describes the four petals of mustard flowers, which resemble a cross; it is one of eight plant family names without the suffix '-aceae' that are authorized alternative names (according to ICBN Art. 18.5 and 18.6 Vienna Code); thus both Cruciferae and Brassicaceae are used.

The family contains 372 genera and 4060 accepted species. The largest genera are Draba (440 species), Erysimum (261 species), Lepidium (234 species), Cardamine (233 species), and Alyssum (207 species).

The family contains the cruciferous vegetables, including species such as Brassica oleracea (e.g., broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, collards), Brassica rapa (turnip, Chinese cabbage, etc.), Brassica napus (rapeseed, etc.), Raphanus sativus (common radish), Armoracia rusticana (horseradish), Matthiola (stock) and the model organism Arabidopsis thaliana (thale cress).

Pieris rapae and other butterflies of the Pieridae family are some of the most well-known pests of the commercial cropping of Brassicaceae species.