Brassicaceae or Cruciferae (Cabbage, Turnip, Caper family)

Brassicaceae or Cruciferae (Cabbage, Turnip, Caper family)

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Rosids > Eurosid II > Order: Brassicales

There are about 338 genera and 3709 species of Brassicaceae worldwide, with 34 genera (20 of them exotic) and 153 species (37 of them exotic naturalised species) in southern Africa. Capparaceae and Cleomaceae are placed under Brassicaceae in some classifications but they are kept as three families here (following Angiosperm Phylogeny website Version 7).

Genera native or naturalised (*) in southern Africa

List from Dreyer & Jordaan (2000a, b).

* Alyssum About 168 species, native mainly to the Mediterranean region but also found in central Europe and Asia. Alyssum minutum has become naturalised in southern Africa (Namaqualand and Western Cape). Sweet Alyssum, the garden plant with little white flowers that is grown commonly along borders of flower beds, is no longer placed in this genus and is now known as Lobularia maritima.
Aplanodes Two species, both endemic to southern Africa
* Arabidopsis A total of 13 species, native to Asia, Europe and North America. Arabidopsis thaliana has become naturalised in southern Africa (Northern, Western and Eastern Cape).
* Barbarea The 12 species are native to Europe, North America and N Asia. Barbarea verna has become naturalised in southern Africa (Western Cape).
Brachycarpaea The only species, Brachycarpaea juncea, is endemic to the Western and Eastern Cape.
* Brassica About 40 species, native mainly to Eurasia. Five species have become naturalised in southern Africa. This genus includes some important species used as vegetables, herbs and spices: Brassica campestris (Turnip, Rapes, Mustards, Oriental Cabbages); Brassica juncea(Indian or Brown Mustard); Brassica nigra(Black Mustard); and Brassica oleracea (Cabbage, Brussels Sprouts, Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Cauliflower, Kale).
* Camelina About 10 species, native to central Europe, eastern Mediterranean and central Asia. Cultivated widely for fibre, bird seed and seed oil (cameline oil). One species (?) naturalised in southern Africa (Gauteng).
Capparis (caper genus) Formerly in Capparaceae. About 250 species, widespread in the tropics and subtropics worldwide, with 5 species native to southern Africa. Capers are derived from the flower buds of Capparis spinosa, which is native to the Mediterranean, Arabia and central and west Asia.
* Capsella Five species, native to eastern Mediterranean and W Asia. Shepherd's Purse Capsella bursa-pastoris is naturalised in southern Africa.
Cardamine About 130 species, found worldwide. In southern Africa there are 2 native species and 3 naturalised.
* Cardaria The only species, Cardaria draba, is native to the Mediterranean region, and has become naturalised in southern Africa.
Chamira The single species, Chamira circaeoides, is endemic to the Western Cape.
* Coronopus Ten species, native to the Mediterranean region, southeast Africa and South America. There are 3 naturalised species in southern Africa.
* Crambe About 20 species, native to W Asia, central Europe, the Mediterranean region and northern tropical Africa. Crambe hispanica has become naturalised in southern Africa (KwaZulu-Natal).
Cycloptychis The 2 species are endemic to the Western Cape.
* Descurainia About 55 species, mainly occurring in North America but also native to South America, Europe and Asia. Descurainia sophia has become locally naturalised in arid areas of southern Africa (Gauteng, Northern and Eastern Cape).
* Diplotaxis About 27 species, native to Mediterranean region and central Europe, extending eastwards to India. Diplotaxis muralis has become naturalised in southern Africa.
* Eruca The 5 species are native to the Mediterranean region. Eruca sativa has become naturalised in the northern summer-rainfall regions.
Erucastrum About 18 species, native to central and southern Europe, Arabian Peninsula and Africa, with 3 species occurring in southern Africa.
Heliophila About 75 species, all endemic to southern Africa, mainly winter-rainfall regions.
Hirschfeldia The 2 species are native to the Mediterranean and Socotra, 1 of which has been introduced to the Western Cape where it has been recorded as an escape from cultivation.
Hymenolobus Five species, native to Europe, Mediterranean region, central Asia, Australia and North America. Hymenolobus procumbens has been recorded as an escape from cultivation in the Western Cape.
Lepidium About 150 species, widely distributed in temperate and subtropical regions of the world, with 15 native and 2 naturalised species in southern Africa. One of these, Lepidium draba (Pepper-cress, Hoary cardaria, White top, Peperbos) is a declared Category 1 invasive plant in South Africa.
* Lobularia Five species, native to Cape Verde, Canary Islands and the Mediterranean region. Lobularia maritima (Sweet Alyssum or Sweet Alison) has escaped from cultivation in the Western Cape.
* Matthiola About 55 species, native to Macronesia, western Europe and the Mediterranean region. Three species have become naturalised in southern Africa.
* Raphanus (Radish genus) About 8 species, native to western and central Europe. Raphanus raphanistrum (Wild Radish) and Raphanus sativus (Radish) are naturalised in southern Africa.
* Rapistru Three species, native to central Europe, the Mediterranean region and western Asia. Rapistrum rugosum is naturalised in southern Africa.
Rorippa About 80 species, widely distributed mainly in temperate regions. Five species are native to southern Africa.
Schlechteria The only species is Schlechteria capensis, endemic to the Western Cape (found in the mountains near Clanwilliam).
Silicularia The sole species, Silicularia polygaloides, is endemic to the Western Cape (found in the mountains near Ceres).
* Sinapis About 10 species, native to the Mediterranean region but now widespread in Europe. Sinapis arvensis and Sinapis alba are weeds associated with cultivation in southern Africa.
Sisymbrium About 80 species, native to Eurasia, the Mediterranean region, Africa and South America. There are 6 native and 2 naturalised species in southern Africa.
Thlaspeocarpa Two species, endemic to southern Africa (Western Cape and Namaqualand).
* Thlaspi About 60 species, native to temperate regions of the northern hemisphere. Thlaspi arvense has become naturalised in southern Africa (Eastern Cape).
* Turritis Three species, native to Europe, western Asia and Africa. Turritis glabra is naturalised in southern Africa.

Exotic genera cultivated in southern Africa

Based on Glen (2002). Number of species recorded as being cultivated in southern Africa is given in square brackets. This list excludes genera with naturalised species in southern Africa, which have already been listed above.

Aubrieta. [1]

Aethionema [2]

Arabis. [6]

Armoracia (Horseradish genus)

Horseradish Armoracia rusticana is a pungent herb, with leaves that are used in salads and sandwiches, and roots that are used for sauces that are added to meat. It is also used for various medical complaints. It is native to southern Russia and Eastern Ukraine. It has become naturalised in Europe, North America and New Zealand, where it can be found growing along roadsides. Cultivation dates back only to about Roman and Greek times, about 2000 years ago. [1]

Aurinia. [1]

Cheiranthus. [1]

Cochlearia [1]

Draba. [3]

Eruca [2]

Erysimum. [2]

Fibigia. [1]

Hesperis. [1]

Hornungia. [1]

Hutchinsia. [1]

Iberis [3]

Isatis [1]

Lunaria. [2]

Malcolmia. [1]

Pritzelago. [1]

Rorippa (Watercress genus)

Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum (Watercress), is indigenous to Europe where it grows in streams, ditches, springs and fast-flowing waters. It has been used as a salad plant since at least Roman times. [1]

Publications

Dreyer, L.L. & Jordaan, M. 2000b. Brassicaceae. In: Seed Plants of Southern Africa (ed. O.A. Leistner). Strelitzia 10: 184-191. National Botanical Institute, Pretoria.
Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.