The mustard or cabbage family, including broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, radishes, and mustard plants. Members have four-petaled flowers arranged in a cross pattern and often produce glucosinolates, compounds that give them their characteristic peppery taste.
From Latin 'brassica' meaning 'cabbage,' the type genus of this family. The family was formerly called Cruciferae, from Latin 'crux' meaning 'cross,' referring to the cross-shaped arrangement of the four petals.
Brassicaceae plants are nature's chemical warriors! Their spicy glucosinolate compounds not only give us the kick in wasabi and mustard but also serve as natural pesticides, protecting the plants from insects and diseases while potentially providing human health benefits as antioxidants.
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