Brassicaceae

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A family of flowering plants, also known as the mustard family, characterized by their four-petaled flowers and often producing edible crops
2. This group includes species bearing fruits such as pods or siliques, familiar in agricultural and culinary contexts
3. Comprising various herbs and vegetables, such as cabbage, broccoli, and kale, this family plays a significant role in human diet and ecology

Etymology: Brassicaceae is a botanical family name, and its history is tied to the genus that gives it its name. "Brassica" is the Latin word for cabbage, a term used by Roman writers for the cabbage group, which includes cabbage, broccoli, kale, and mustard. Botanists formed "Brassicaceae" by adding the standard family suffix "-aceae" to the stem of that genus name, following the convention used for plant families across scientific naming. The family was long called Cruciferae, from the Latin "crux" meaning cross, because the four petals are arranged like a cross. That name was the standard in English and most scientific writing for much of the 19th and 20th centuries. The name Brassicaceae was preferred because it is based on a genus name rather than a descriptive feature, and under the botanical naming rules it became the formally accepted name, with Cruciferae remaining a valid alternative that is still widely seen.

Synonyms: mustard family, crucifers, cabbage family