Brassicaceae:Characters,DistributionandTypes(With

Diagram)

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August30, 2016

Inthisarticlewewildiscussabout:-1.CharactersofBrassicaceae2.Distribution
ofBrassicaceae3.EconomicImportance4.Affinities5.ImportantTypes.

CharactersofBrassicaceae:

Flowersactinomorphicrarelyzygomorphic,hermaphrodite;sepalsfourintwowhorlsof
twoeach,petalsfour,diagonalyarranged-cruciform;stamenssix,tetradynamous; gynoecium
bicarpelary,syncarpous,parietalplacentation,bilocularduetotheformation offlaseseptum
(replum);fruitsiliquaorsilicula.

A.Vegetativecharacters:

Habit:

Generalyherbs,annual(Brassica,Capsela)orbiennialorshrubs.CommonIndianherbs
areEruca,Alyssum,Nasturtium,Lepidium,Coronopusetc.Vegetativereproductionisby
bulbils(Dentariabulbifera)orbycoralroots.

Roots:

Taproot,swolenonaccountofstoredfoodmaterials.Itmaybeconical(Radish), fusiform ornapiform

(Turnip).

Stem:

Herbaceous,erect,cylindrical(Iberis,Brassica)rarelywoodyorsometimesreduced
(Raphanus&Brassicaspecies),glabrousorhairy,solidandbranched.

Leaves:

Alternateorsub-opposite,simple,exstipulate(Brassicacampestris).Maybecaulineor
radical(Raphanus),generalysessile,hairy,entireandwithunicostatereticulate venation.

B.Floralcharacters:

Inflorescence:

Raceme(Brassicacampestris)corymboseraceme(Iberis)orcorymb.

Flower:
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Pedicelate,ebracteate,hermaphrodite,actinomorphicrarelyzygomorphic(Iberisand

Teesdalia),hypogynous,completeorincomplete(Lepidium)andtetramerous.

Calyx:

Sepals4arrangedintwowhorlsoftwoeach,polysepalous(2antero-posteriorand2
lateral),2lateralsepalsmaybesaccate,imbricateaestivation,inferior.

Corola:

Petals4,alternatewithsepals,polypetalous,petalsarrangedintheform ofacross
knownascruciform.ThisarrangementischaracteristicofthefamilyPetalsusualy
clawed,petalsgeneralyequalrarelyunequal(Iberis,Teesdalia)orsometimespetalsmay
bereplacedbystamens(Capselabursapastoris).

Androecium:

Stamens6,arrangedintwowhorls,outertwostamensshortandinnerfourlong(2+4),
tetradynamous,polyandrous,anthersdithecousbasifixed,introrse.Disclikenectaries,
variableinnumber,presentatthebaseofstamens.Insomecasesthenumberof stamensisvariable–
16(Megacarpaea),4(Cardaminehirsuta),2(Coronopus)etc.

Gynoecium:

Bicarpelaryrarelytricarpelary(Lepidium sativum),syncarpous,ovarysuperior,
unilocular,becomesbilocularduetothedevelopmentoffalseseptum caledreplum:
parietalplacentation,ovulesmany,styleshort,stigmasimpleorbifid.Thecrucifercarpel
hasbeenapuzzlingsubjectforthemorphologistsandtheirattentionattractedtowards
itsforalongtime.Accordingtosomethereareonlytwocarpelswhileothersholdthat
therearefourcarpels.

Fruit:

Siliquaorsilicula,sometimeslomentum (Raphanus);whenthevalvesseparateina
siliquatheseedsremainattachedtothereplum.

Seed:

Ex-albuminous.Thegerminationofseedisepigeal.

Polination:

Selforcrosspolinated;flowersarevisitedbyinsectsduetothepresenceofnectaries.

CleistogamyisfoundinCardaminechenopodifolia.Anemophilouspolinationisfoundin

Pringlea.

Floralformula:

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DistributionofBrassicaceae:

ThisfamilyisalsocaledBrassicafamily.Thefamilyincludes375generaand3200
speciesaccordingtoWilis.Itisdistributedalovertheworldbutmainlyconfinedtothe
Mediterraneanregionandnorthtemperatureregions.

EconomicImportanceofBrassicaceae:

Thisfamilyisofconsiderableeconomicimportance.

1.Food:

Theplantsofthisfamilywhicharecultivatedasvegetablecropsare:

Brassicaoleraceavar.botrytis(H.Phulgobhi),B.oleraceavar.capitata(H.Bandgobhi),B.
oleraceavar.caulorapa(H.Gand-gobhi),Brassicacampestrisvar.sarson(whitemustard),
Brassicarapa(H.Shalgam),Raphanussatiuus(H.Muli),areedibleandcookedas vegetables.

2.Oil:

TheseedofB.campestris(orwhitemustard)yieldmustardoilorKarwa-telwhichis
widelyusedasacookingmedium.B.nigra(H.Kalirai)andB.juncea(H.rai)alsoproduce oil.

Afterextractingoilthecakeisleftbehindwhichishighlynutritiousasacattlefeed;the
oilcakeisalsousedassoilfertilizer.Raphanusseedsalsoproduceapungentoilwhichis
oftenusedinadulterationofsarsonoil;thisoilhasdigestiveproperties.

3.Medicines:

TheleavesandtendershootsofLepidium sativum areusedinlivercomplaints,asthma,

coughandbleedingpiles.Rorippamontanaisanappetizerandastimulant.Theseedsof
Cheiranthuscheiriareusedinbronchitisandfever.Theflowersareusedinparalysisand
impotency.Lobulariaisusedforgonorrhoea.Iberisamaraisusedinrheumatism and gout.

4.Ornamentals:

Someplantsaregrowningardensfortheirbeautifulflowersviz.Cheiranthuscheiri(wal
flower),Iberisamara(candituft)Lobularia,Matthiola(stock),Hesperis(rocket),Alyssum,
Lunaria(honesty)etc.

Primitivecharacters:

1.Leavessimpleandalternate.
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2.Flowershermaphrodite,hypogynousandactinomorphic.

3.Calyxandcorolafree.

4.Stamenspolyandrous.

5.Ovulesanatropous.

Advancedcharacters:

1.Plantsaregeneralyherbs-annualorbiennials.

2.Leavesexstipulate.

3.Flowersebracteateandsometimeszygomorphic(Iberis).

4.Gynoecium bicarpelaryandsyncarpous.

5.Fruitsimple.

AffinitiesofBrassicaceae:

RendleplacedthisfamilyundertheorderRhoedales;Bentham-Hookerplaceditunder
thecohortParietales.ThefamilyisrelatedtothePapaveraceaeononehandandtothe
Capparidaceaeontheother.Bentham &HookerandHutchinson(1948,1964)holdthe view
thatBrassicaceaeisderivedfrom thePapaveraceousancestorswhereasEames,
Arber,HayekandPuribelieveittohaveaCapparidaceousaliance.

Thethreefamilies,Capparidaceae,Brassicaceae(Cruciferae)andPapaveraceaehavein
commonthefeaturesoftetramerousperianth,bicarpelarysyncarpousgynoecium and
parietalplacentation.Thesecharactersgaveproblematicissuesastowhetherthe
Brassicaceae(Cruciferae)originatedfrom theCapparidaceaeordescendedfrom the
Papaveraceae.

Theanatomyandmorphologyofstamensandcarpelsofcruciferousflowerbears
testimonytoapapaverousancestory.ButinBrassicaceaethestamensare
tetradynamousandnotinPapaveraceae.

Comparisonoffloraldiagram indicatesthatBrassicaceaeiscloselyaliedto
Capparidaceae.ButinBrassicaceaegynophoreandvariablenumberofstamensare
absentwhereasthesearetheprominentcharactersofCapparideanflowers.

WithintheRhoedalesreductionseemstohavetakenplaceinthenumberofstamens.In
thePapaveraceaetherearenumerousstamensbutinitstwosubfamiliesreductionhas
occurred.IntheHypecoideaethereareonlyfourstamens;intheFumarioideaethe
stamensarearrangedintwobundleseachwithonedithecousandtwomonothecous anthers.

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IntheCapparidaceaethenumberofstamensrangebetweenseveral(asinCapparis)to
six(asinGynandropsis).FinalyinCleomethereareonlyfourstamens.Thefloral diagram
ofCleomespinosawithsixstamensisremarkablysimilartothatofthe Brassicaceae(Cruciferae).

Inthisfamilythegeneralconditionistetradynamousbutmaybereducedtoonlytwo(as
inCoronopus).Celakovaskyconsiderstheaboveview asmostsatisfactory.

Cronquist(1968)tooconsidersthattheBrassicaceae(Cruciferae)evolvedfrom the

Capparidaceae.

Commonplantsofthefamily:

1.Brassicacampestris(Sarson)–acultivatedherb. 2.Iberisamara(Chandni)–
annual,ornamental,herbcultivatedinwinter. 3.Cherianthuscheiri(Walflower)–
ornamentalannualherb.

4.Rorippamonatna(Watercress)–semiwild. 5.Capselabursa–pastoris(Shepherd’spurse)–
commonweed.

6.Farsetiajaquemonti–commonweed.

7.Coronopusdidymus(=Senebieradidyma)–wildinwasteplaces. 8.Erucasativa(Taramira)–
cultivatedforseedsthatyieldanoil.

Divisionofthefamilyandchiefgenera:

Linnaeusutilisedthepodasthecharacterforhisclassification.

HedividedTetradynamiaintotwoorders:

Order1.Siliculosae–fruitasilicula.

Order2.Siliquosae–fruitasiliqua.

Prantldividedthefamilyonthepresenceorabsenceofhairsintotwoseries.

SeriesI.Hairsun-branchedorhairsabsent,neverglandular:

Thisseriesincludestwosub-families:

1.Thelypodieae:

Withstigmadevelopedequalyalaround,styleundivided.Thelypodium,Pringlea.

2.Sinapeae:
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Withstigmabetterdevelopedoverplacentae.Iberis,Brassica,Raphanusetc.

SeriesI.Hairsbranched,sometimesglandular:

Thisseriesincludestwosub-families:

1.Schizopetaleae:

Withstigmaequalalround.Physaria.

2.Hesparideae:

Withstigmabetterdevelopedabovetheplacentae.Alyssum,Capsela,Cheiranthusetc.

O.E.Schulz(1936)dividedthefamilyinto19tribesonthebasisofawidevarietyof characters.

ImportantTypesofBrassicaceae:

1.Brassicacampestris,Linn.(Fig.31.1):

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Habitandhabitat:

Anannualherb,cultivatedforseedswhichyieldoil.

Root:

Tapandbranched.

Stem:

Herbaceouserect,cylindrical,solid,glabrousorhairy.

Leaf:

Simple,alternate,exstipulate,loweroneslyrateandupperoblongorlanceolate,
unicostatereticulatevenation,hairy,sessile.

Inflorescence:

Acorymbose-raceme.

Flower:

Ebracteate,pedicelate,complete,actinomorphic,hermaphrodite,cruciform,
tetramerous,hypogynous,andyelow.

Calyx:

Sepals4(2+2)intwowhorls,outerwhorlantero-posterior,thetwolateralonesaccate,
green,polysepalous,inferior.

Corola:

Petalsfour,polypetalous,cruciform,valvate,inferior,yelow.

Androecium:

Stamenssix,tetradynamous,intwowhorls,theouterwithtwoshortlateralstamensand
innerwithfourlongstamensarrangedintwomedianpairs.Basifixed,polyandrous,
introrse.Fourgreennectariesarepresent,ontheinnersideofeachshortstamenanda
similaroneatthebasebutoutsideeachpairoflongmedianstamens,inferior.

Gynoecium:

Bicarpelary,syncarpous,superior,unilocularbecomingbilocularbythedevelopmentof falseseptum
caled–replum;parietalplacentation,styleshort,stigmabilobed.

Fruit:

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Siliqua.

Seed:

Non-endospermic.

Floralformula:

2.Iberisamara,Linn.(Fig.31.2):

Habitandhabitat:

Herbaceousannual,cultivatedinthegardens.

Root:
Tap,branchedandannual.

Stem:

Herbaceous,erect,branched,cylindrical,solid,greenandglabrous.

Leaf:

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Cauline,ramal,alternate,simple,exstipulate,sessile,glabrous,orhairy,unicostate
reticulatevenation.

Inflorescence:

Corymboseraceme.

Flower:

Ebracteate,pedicelate,complete,zygomorphic,zygomorphyisduetotwolonger
anteriorpetals,tetramerous,hypogynous,white.

Calyx:

Sepals4,polysepalous,intwowhorlsoftwoeach,green,imbricateaestivation,inferior.

Corola:

Petals4,polypetalous,cruciform,petalsunequal-2posteriorsmalerand2anterior
longer,valvate,white.

Androecium:

Stamens6,polyandrous,arrangedintwowhorls;outerof2shortstamensandinnerof4
longerstamens,tetradynamous,anthersbasifixedandintrorse.

Gynoecium:

Bicarpelary,syncarpous,ovarysuperior,unilocularbutbecomesbilocularduetothe
formationoffalseseptum –thereplum,parietalplacentation;styleshort;stigma capitate.

Fruit:

Asilicula.

Seed:

Nonendospermic.

Floralformula:

3.Coronopusdidymus,Linn.(Syn.Senebieradidyma) (Fig.31.3):

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Habitandhabitat:

Anannual,winterweed.

Root:

Tap,branchedandannual.

Stem:

Prostrate,herbaceous,cylindrical,branched,solid,greenandglabrous.
Leaf:

Alternate,exstipulate,sub-sessileorsessile,simple,pinnatifid,glabrous,unicostate
reticulatevenation.

Inflorescence:

Atypicalraceme.
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Flower:

Pedicelate,bracteate,complete,hermaphrodite,actinomorphic,hypogynous,greenish white,smal.

Calyx:

Sepals4,polysepalousintwowhorlsoftwoeach,antero-posteriorsepalsform theouter
whorl,green,linear,inferior.

Corola:

Petals4polypetalous,verysmalandscale-like,cruciform,whitishgreen,alternatingwith
thesepals,valvate,inferior.

Androecium:

Stamens2,anterio-posterior,polyandrous,smalnectariesarepresentatthebasesof
stamens,anthersbasifixed,dithecous,introrse.

Gynoecium:

Bicarpelary,syncarpoussuperior,unilocularbecomingbilocularduetotheformationof
falseseptum,parietalplacentation,2ovulesperplacentum,stylesmal,stigmabifid.

Fruit:

Asilicula.

Seed:

Non-endospermic

Floralformula:

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