Plant Identification Database:
Cruciferae (Mustard)
Order: Brassicales; Class: Dicotyledonae

The plant data on this site are a record of Bob Ronnow's field observations
which vary in accuracy and change with experience. For accurate and complete
information please use the links provided for each plant species and family.

Plant Families
Glossary of Botanical Terms

CLASSIFICATION
LEAVES
FLOWERS
FRUIT
STEM
ECOLOGY
CLASSIFICATION
Common Name (Image)
Scientific Name (Notes)
Genus
LV: Attachment
LV: Shape
LV: Edge
LV: Apex/Base
LV: Size/Surface
FL: Petals/Sepals
FL: Color
FL: Arrangement
FL: Size/Season
FL: Stamen/Pistil/Ovary
FR: Type
FR: Color
FR: Size/Season
ST: Type/Size/Growth
ST: Surface/Color
ST: Buds/Roots
EC: Edible
EC: Habitat
EC: Observations
Common Name (Image)
Scientific Name (Notes)
Other Names
Cruciferae: LV: alternate a/o basal; FL: 4 petals, 4 sepals, raceme or cyme, indeterminate, terminal, u. <1", petals separate, sepals separate, u. 6 stamens (4t,2s), ovary superior; FR: capsule; ST: herb; EC: edible (LV raw, FR raw)
Alternate a/o basal P: 4, Separate; S: 4, Separate Raceme or Cyme, Indeterminate, Terminal u. <1" S: u. 6 (4 tall, 2 short); O: Superior Capsule Herb LV raw, FR raw
Cruciferae: LV: alternate a/o basal; FL: 4 petals, 4 sepals, raceme or cyme, indeterminate, terminal, u. <1", petals separate, sepals separate, u. 6 stamens (4t,2s), ovary superior; FR: capsule; ST: herb; EC: edible (LV raw, FR raw)
Garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata Alliaria 4 parts White Leaf raw; Fruit raw Garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata
Alyssum Alyssum alyssoides Alyssum Grassland/Fields; Roadside; Waste places Alyssum Alyssum alyssoides
Mouse-ear cress Arabidopsis thaliana Arabidopsis Waste places Mouse-ear cress Arabidopsis thaliana
Tower mustard Arabis glabra Arabis 4 parts Leaf raw; Fruit raw Grassland/Fields Tower mustard Arabis glabra
Lyre-leaved rock cress Arabis lyrata Arabis Basal Lobed Entire 4 parts White <1" Leaf raw; Fruit raw Lyre-leaved rock cress Arabis lyrata
Horseradish Armoracia rusticana Armoracia 4 parts White Leaf raw; Fruit raw; root cooked Horseradish Armoracia rusticana
Wintercress Barbarea vulgaris Barbarea Parted 4 parts Yellow Leaf raw; Fruit raw Wintercress Barbarea vulgaris bittercress, herb barbara, rocketcress, yellow rocketcress, winter rocket, wound rocket
Hoary alyssum Berteroa incana Berteroa 4 parts Grassland/Fields; Waste places Hoary alyssum Berteroa incana
Brown mustard; Indian mustard Brassica juncea Brassica Alternate, Petiole short (<1/2 leaf length) Obovate, Whole; Parted Entire; Serrate A: Obtuse, B: Acute P: 4, Separated Yellow Raceme, Terminal; Axillary <1", Summer; Fall Follicle (simple pistil, 1 suture) Herb, >1', Erect Smooth; Glaucous Grassland/Fields Brown mustard; Indian mustard Brassica juncea
Charlock Brassica kaber Brassica Alternate, Petiole short (<1/2 leaf length); Sessile Ovate, Whole; Parted Serrate A: Obtuse, B: Obtuse P: 4, Separated Yellow Raceme, Axillary <1", Spring; Summer; Fall Herb, >1', Erect Green Fruit raw; leaf cooked Grassland/Fields Charlock Brassica kaber
Common Name (Image)
Scientific Name (Notes)
Genus
LV: Attachment
LV: Shape
LV: Edge
LV: Apex/Base
LV: Size/Surface
FL: Petals/Sepals
FL: Color
FL: Arrangement
FL: Size/Season
FL: Stamen/Pistil/Ovary
FR: Type
FR: Color
FR: Size/Season
ST: Type/Size/Growth
ST: Surface/Color
ST: Buds/Roots
EC: Edible
EC: Habitat
EC: Observations
Common Name (Image)
Scientific Name (Notes)
Other Names
Black mustard Brassica nigra Brassica 4 parts Waste places Black mustard Brassica nigra
Red kohlrabi; Savoy cabbage Brassica oleracea cultivar Brassica Foliage, Harold Feinstein Red kohlrabi; Savoy cabbage Brassica oleracea cultivar
Field mustard; Rape Brassica rapa Brassica Alternate, Clasping Oblong; Lanceolate, Whole; Parted Entire; Toothed (irregular serration) A: Obtuse, B: Rounded P: 4, Separated Yellow Raceme, Terminal <1", Spring; Summer; Fall S: few (<6) Follicle (simple pistil, 1 suture) Herb, >1', Erect Glaucous Grassland/Fields Field mustard; Rape Brassica rapa
Sea-rocket Cakile edentula Cakile Toothed (irregular serration) 4 parts Leaf raw Coastal Sea-rocket Cakile edentula
Shepherd's purse Capsella bursa-pastoris Capsella Parted 4 parts Leaf raw; Fruit raw Roadside Shepherd's purse Capsella bursa-pastoris
Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica Cardamine 4 parts Pennsylvania bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica
Cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis Cardamine Pinnate 4 parts White Leaf raw; Fruit raw Cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis
Toothwort Dentaria diphylla Dentaria Opposite Palmate (3Pal) Obtuse >1" 4 parts White Raceme, Terminal <1", Spring Leaf raw; Fruit raw; Root raw Forest Toothwort Dentaria diphylla broadleaf toothwort, crinkle root, crinkle-root, pepper root, twin-leaved toothwort, twoleaf toothwort
Cut-leaved toothwort Dentaria laciniata Dentaria 4 parts Forest Cut-leaved toothwort Dentaria laciniata
Whitlow grass Draba verna Draba Roadside; Grasslands/Fields Whitlow grass Draba verna
Common Name (Image)
Scientific Name (Notes)
Genus
LV: Attachment
LV: Shape
LV: Edge
LV: Apex/Base
LV: Size/Surface
FL: Petals/Sepals
FL: Color
FL: Arrangement
FL: Size/Season
FL: Stamen/Pistil/Ovary
FR: Type
FR: Color
FR: Size/Season
ST: Type/Size/Growth
ST: Surface/Color
ST: Buds/Roots
EC: Edible
EC: Habitat
EC: Observations
Common Name (Image)
Scientific Name (Notes)
Other Names
French rocket Erucastrum gallicum Erucastrum 4 parts Waste places French rocket Erucastrum gallicum
Wormseed Erysimum cheiranthoides Erysimum 4 parts Leaf raw; Fruit raw Grassland/Fields; Waste places Wormseed Erysimum cheiranthoides
Dame's rocket Hesperis matronalis Hesperis 4 parts Leaf raw; Fruit raw Dame's rocket Hesperis matronalis
Pepperwort; peppergrass Lepidium densiflorum Lepidium Roadside; Waste places Pepperwort; peppergrass Lepidium densiflorum
Roadside peppergrass Lepidium ruderale Lepidium 4 parts Leaf raw; Fruit raw Roadside; Waste places Roadside peppergrass Lepidium ruderale
Poor-man's pepper Lepidium virginicum Lepidium Roadside; Waste places Poor-man's pepper Lepidium virginicum
Water cress Nasturtium officinale Nasturtium Pinnate (2Pin, 3Pin) Sinuate 4 parts Leaf raw; Fruit raw Riparian Water cress Nasturtium officinale
Wild radish Raphanus raphanistrum Raphanus Waste places Wild radish Raphanus raphanistrum
Yellow cress Rorippa palustris Rorippa 4 parts Yellow cress Rorippa palustris
Tumble-mustard Sisymbrium altissimum Sisymbrium 4 parts Waste places Tumble-mustard Sisymbrium altissimum
Hedge-mustard Sisymbrium officinale Sisymbrium 4 parts Waste places Hedge-mustard Sisymbrium officinale
Common Name (Image)
Scientific Name (Notes)
Genus
LV: Attachment
LV: Shape
LV: Edge
LV: Apex/Base
LV: Size/Surface
FL: Petals/Sepals
FL: Color
FL: Arrangement
FL: Size/Season
FL: Stamen/Pistil/Ovary
FR: Type
FR: Color
FR: Size/Season
ST: Type/Size/Growth
ST: Surface/Color
ST: Buds/Roots
EC: Edible
EC: Habitat
EC: Observations
Common Name (Image)
Scientific Name (Notes)
Other Names
CLASSIFICATION
LEAVES
FLOWERS
FRUIT
STEM
ECOLOGY
CLASSIFICATION