#brassicaceae

• Aethionema — A genus of annual or perennial herbaceous or subshrubby plants belonging to the Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) family, primarily native to the limestone and rocky regions of the Mediterranean basin and Asia Minor. These plants are structurally characterized by often fleshy, glaucous leaves, dense racemose inflorescences made of small decorative pink, purple, or white flowers, and uniquely flattened silicles, being frequently cultivated in alpine rock gardens across temperate zones.
• Aethionema diastrophis — Scientific name of a perennial stonecress species from the Aethionema genus, native to the mountainous and arid regions of Asia Minor, structurally characterized by stems woody at the base, compact glaucous leaves, and dense inflorescences with delicate intense pink flowers. The plant is of particular interest in phytogeography studies and is prized by collectors for its ability to colonize arid rocky crevices.
• Aethionema grandiflorum — Scientific name of the Persian stonecress, a perennial species from the Aethionema genus, native to the mountainous regions of the Caucasus, Iran, and Turkey, considered one of the most spectacular in the genus. It is structurally recognized by its bushy habit, slender stems, glaucous-blue leaves, and large, compact racemose inflorescences formed by numerous intense pink flowers, being widely used as an ornamental rock garden plant.
• Aethionema iberideum — Scientific name of a perennial dwarf stonecress species from the Aethionema genus, native to the rocky alpine zones of Greece, Albania, and Turkey. This plant is structurally characterized by short, trailing stems, small, oval, silvery or glaucous leaves, and dense inflorescences with white or pale pink flowers, resembling the genus Iberis in appearance, making it a highly appreciated niche species in rockeries.
• Aethionema pulchellum — Scientific name of a perennial dwarf stonecress species from the Aethionema genus, native to the calcareous mountainous regions of Turkey, Iran, and the Caucasus. This plant is structurally characterized by trailing or ascending stems, small glaucous-blue leaves, and dense, spherical inflorescences made of numerous delicate pink-purple flowers, being a species highly prized in rock garden landscaping due to its compact habit.
• Alliaria — A genus of biennial or perennial herbaceous plants in the family Brassicaceae, with its main representative being the species Alliaria petiolata (commonly known as garlic mustard). The plant is recognized by its cordate leaves which, when crushed, emit a strong odor of garlic, and by small, white flowers with four petals arranged in a cross.
• Alyssum — A genus of small annual or perennial herbaceous plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to Mediterranean and temperate regions of Europe and Asia, comprising low-growing species with simple leaves and small flowers grouped in dense yellow or white inflorescences. Commonly known in gardens as alyssum or madwort, these plants are widely used in horticulture for rock gardens and floral borders due to their high drought tolerance and long blooming period.
• Silver alyssum — A perennial herbaceous plant species belonging to the genus Alyssum, native to southern Europe, characterized by stems that are woody at the base, leaves covered with stellate hairs giving them a grayish-silver appearance, and golden-yellow flowers; a notable nickel hyperaccumulator. This structural taxon is extensively studied in phytoextraction and bioremediation due to its exceptional ability to absorb and store heavy metals from contaminated or serpentinitic soils.
• Mountain alyssum — A perennial herbaceous plant species within the genus Alyssum, family Brassicaceae, distributed across the mountainous and hilly areas of Europe; commonly known as mountain alyssum or mountain madwort. The plant features prostrate stems at the base, grayish leaves covered with stellate hairs, and fragrant yellow flowers grouped in dense racemes, making it ideal for rock gardens due to its high drought resistance.
• Basket-of-gold — A taxonomic synonym frequently used in horticulture for the species 'Aurinia saxatilis' (commonly known as goldentuft alyssum or basket-of-gold); a perennial herbaceous plant native to Central and Southern Europe, characterized by dense mounds, persistent grayish leaves, and bright-yellow inflorescences. It is highly valued for decorating retaining walls and alpine landscape arrangements.
• Arabis — A genus of herbaceous, annual or perennial plants within the family Brassicaceae (Cruciferae), commonly known as rockcress. Most species are native to temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere and mountainous regions, characterized by often pubescent leaves and small, white, pink, or purple four-petaled flowers, valued in horticulture for rock gardens and ground cover.
• Arabis albida — A species of perennial herbaceous plant in the Brassicaceae family, taxonomically considered a synonym or variety of Arabis caucasica. It is characterized by persistent, slightly pubescent, greyish-green foliage and an abundant early bloom of fragrant white flowers, extensively used in landscape design as a ground cover for rockeries and sunny borders.
• Arabis alpina — A circumboreal species of perennial herbaceous plant in the Brassicaceae family, native to mountainous areas of Europe, Asia, and North America, including the Carpathian Mountains. Commonly known as alpine rockcress, it stands out for its excellent adaptation to cold climates and rocky soils, featuring toothed leaves covered with stellate hairs and dense inflorescences of four-petaled white flowers.
• Arabis blepharophylla — A rare species of perennial herbaceous plant, endemic to the California coast (United States), belonging to the Brassicaceae family. It is recognized in botany by its leaves with margins fringed with fine, stiff hairs (resembling eyelashes) and by its spectacular deep pink to purple flowers, highly valued in horticulture as an ornamental plant for rock gardens and containers due to its vibrant, compact growth.
• Arabis scopoliana — A species of perennial herbaceous plant in the Brassicaceae family, endemic to the mountainous regions of the southeastern Alps and northwestern Balkan Peninsula (Dinarides). It is an alpine-orophytic plant adapted to thriving on calcareous screes and rock crevices at high altitudes, characterized by compact rosettes of glabrous or slightly pubescent leaves and short stems bearing white flowers, holding high significance in regional phytogeographic studies.
• Arugula — An alternative spelling and orthoepic variant utilized in Romanian commercial and daily parlance for arugula or rucola (Eruca vesicaria); an annual herbaceous plant in the Brassicaceae family whose elongated, indented leaves, featuring a characteristically peppery, bitter, and nutty flavor, are extensively used in gastronomy for salads, sauces, and as a pizza topping. The term represents a direct phonetic adaptation rooted in Italian or English lexical forms.
• Armoracia — A genus of herbaceous perennial plants in the cabbage family Brassicaceae, containing species with thick, pungent taproots, most notably 'Armoracia rusticana' (the common horseradish). These plants are characterized by large leaves, small white flowers, and high glucosinolate content.
• Aubrieta — A genus of flowering herbaceous perennial plants in the cabbage family Brassicaceae, native to southern Europe and central Asia, characterized by low, trailing stems that form dense mats of leaves and small, vibrant flowers in shades of purple, pink, or white; commonly known as aubretia. They are highly prized rock garden plants in horticulture due to their drought resistance and spectacular early spring blooms.
• Aubrieta deltoidea — The type species of perennial flowering plant in the genus Aubrieta, family Brassicaceae, native to southeastern Europe and widely cultivated as an ornamental; Lilac bush or rock cress. It is characterized by low-growing, mat-forming habits, slightly toothed deltoid leaves, and abundant violet or pink-purple flowers covering the foliage in early spring.