Cabbage family (Brassicaceae)
The mustard (cabbage) family grows on almost every continent and has about 3000 species, mostly annual, biennial and perennial herbs. It has a taproot, simple leaves without stipules arranged alternately. Flowers are regular and bisexual, in a raceme. Flower formula: K4 C4 A2+4 G(2) — 4 free sepals, 4 free petals (cross-shaped, hence the old name Cruciferae), 6 stamens (4 long and 2 short) and one pistil formed from two carpels. The fruit is a silique (length at least 3 times the width) or a silicle (length equal to or up to 2 times the width), usually opening from the base into two valves. Shepherd’s purse is an annual herb 10–30 cm tall; it flowers from March to May and has triangular silicles; its leaf rosettes are eaten in early spring (green dumplings and pies) and contain vitamins C and K. Crops: cabbage, turnip, radish and black radish; woad (o‘sma) gives a dye. Eight species of this family are in the Red Book of Uzbekistan. Do not use wild plants as medicine on your own.
| Part | Number | Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Sepals | 4 | free |
| Petals | 4 | free, in a cross |
| Stamens | 2+4 | 4 long, 2 short |
| Pistil | 1 | fused from 2 carpels |
Comparison: take flowering or fruiting shoots of shepherd’s purse from near school, or radish/turnip from the market; find the 4 petals, 6 stamens and the silique or silicle and draw them. Safety: pick weeds with an adult; do not eat plants from roadsides or sprayed areas; wash hands.