Capsella

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Capsella

Description

Annual to short-lived perennials, small to medium-sized with taproot. Hairs simple, or forked, or branched. Sepals somewhat spreading, not saccate. Petals white, sometimes reddish or yellowish, ± clawed, rarely absent. Stamens 6; Ovary dorsiventrally flattened, obovate in outline, with 10-40 ovules in each locule. Fruit a silicula, dehiscent, flat, with narrow septum, obtriangular to obcordate, valves keeled. Seeds numerous, not mucilaginous.

Distribution

Asia-Tropical, Europe present, world present
About 5 spp., mainly Europe; doubtfully congeneric species in other parts of the world; in Malesia introduced.

Citation

ENDL. 1839: Gen. Pl.: 878
B. & H. 1862 – In: Gen. Pl.: 86
BAILLON 1871 – In: Hist. Pl.: 287
SCHULZ 1936 – In: E. & P., Nat. Pfl. Fam., ed. 2, 17b: 453