This is an extremely variable family represented by annual, winter annual, biennial, and perennial species. The flowers are perfect and regular with 4 sepals, 4 petals and 6 stamens divided into 2 groups (4 long, 2 short). Fruit pods are divided into 2 compartments by a thin partition and usually containing many seeds. This family contains many weeds and also many edible plants.
Genera found in Manitoba:
Alyssum Arabidopsis Arabis Armoracia Barbarea Berteroa Brassica Braya Cakile Camelina Capsella Cardamine Cardaria Cochlearia Conringia Descurainia Diplotaxis Draba Eruca Erucastrum Erysimum Eutrema Hesperis Hutchinsia Lepidium Lesquerella Lunaria Nasturtium Neslia Raphanus Rorippa Sisymbrium Subularia Thlaspi Thellungiella