Floral Characters :
1. Inflorescence :
Usually Racemose, Raceme (e.g.. Mustard), some have Corymb (e.g., Candytuft)
2. Flower :
Flowers are Ebracteate (without bract), pedicillate. complete, bisexual, usually actinomorphic but in Candytuft (Iberis amara) flower is zygomorphic.
Hypogvnous and bimerous or tetramerous flower
3. Calyx :
Sepals are 4 in numbers, polysepalous (sepals are free), arranged in two whorls of two in each whorl, imbricate aestivation, deciduous.
4. Corolla :
Petals are 4 in numbers, polypetalous (petals are free), cruciform (petals are diagonally arranged in the form of a cross), valvate aestivation, each petal is differentiated into a lower claw and upper expanded limb.
In Coronopus petals are absent while in Candytuft two anterior petals are larger than two posterior petals hence it is zygomorphic.
5. Androecium :
Androecium consists of 6 stamens. Polyandrous, Tetradynamous (2+4). two lateral and short stamens form outer whorl and 4 median and long stamens form inner whorl.
Anthers are bithecous (Dithecous), basifixed and introse.
Sometimes 4 nectariferous glands are present near the base of the stamens.
6. Gynoecium :
Bicarpellary ovary, syncarpous, unilocular in early stages but later becomes bilocular due to formation of a false septum or replum.
Ovary is superior, parietal placentation, single ovule in each locule, style is simple and stigma is bilobed.
7. Floral formula :
8. Fruit :
Mostly siliqua type but in Capsella, Iberis and Alyssum siliqula type of fruit.
9. Seed :
Ex-albuminous or non endospermic, cotyledons are oily.
10. Pollination :
Self pollination and cross pollination both exists in this family . Cross pollination usually by insects.
Floral structure and floral diagram of a typical plant (Mustard-/Brassica campestris) of family Brassicaceae.
