# mustard family (*Brassicaceae*)

The mustard family includes many plants that are known for their tasty leaves and seeds. They can be found in gardens and fields, and some are used to make delicious mustard!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Urban areas, Gardens, Fields
- **Also known as:** Mustard Greens, Wild Mustard

![mustard family](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Barbarea_vulgaris1.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Barbarea_vulgaris1.jpg)

## Appearance

The mustard family has simple or lobed leaves and distinctive four-petal flowers often arranged in clusters. These flowers typically display shades of yellow, white, or purple, forming a cross-like shape that sets them apart from many other flowering plants.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Brassicales
- **Family:** Brassicaceae

## Interesting facts

- Many plants we eat, like broccoli and cabbage, are mustard relatives!
- Some mustard seeds contain oils used to power vehicles!
- The family's flowers have four petals, forming a cross shape!
- Wasabi, that super spicy green paste, is also a mustard family member!

## Special abilities

- **Spicy Shield:** Mustard family plants have special compounds that make them taste spicy, which helps them defend against hungry animals.
- **Quick Conquerors:** They can grow very fast and produce many seeds, helping them quickly spread and thrive in open spaces.
- **Frost Fighters:** Some mustard plants have special chemicals that act like antifreeze, allowing them to grow even in cold weather.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 15-300 cm
- **Spread:** 10-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.5-2.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring to fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Annual
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Cabbage white butterfly (*Pieris rapae*) — Its larvae munch on the leaves.
- **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees are key pollinators, gathering nectar and pollen.
- **Eaten by:** Cabbage aphid (*Brevicoryne brassicae*) — Tiny insects suck sap, potentially harming plants.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Nitrogen Fixing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nitrogen-fixing): Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
- [Biennial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/biennial): Biennial plants complete their life cycle over two growing seasons, typically forming foliage in the first year and flowering/seeding in the second.
- [Agricultural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/agricultural): This human use trait describes species cultivated or domesticated by humans for agricultural purposes, including crops and livestock.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.
- [Spice](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spice): This human use trait indicates species from which spices are derived, used for flavoring, preserving food, or as aromatic agents.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always wash your hands after touching plants and ask an adult before tasting any plants.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify mustard family?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is mustard family?

15-300 cm

### How wide does mustard family spread?

10-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on mustard family?

0.5-2.5 cm

### When does mustard family bloom?

Spring to fall

### Is mustard family edible?

Yes

### Is mustard family toxic?

None

### What is mustard family's lifecycle?

Annual

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Mustard Family: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mustard-family)