Description: Annuals or biennials, glabrous or with simple hairs.
Leaves variable in dissection and size, usually less than 20 cm long, basal leaves commonly in a rosette, stem leaves reducing to ± entire.
Inflorescence usually paniculate. Petals clawed. Stigma ± 2-lobed.
Siliqua mostly linear, sometimes conical, not beaked; valves with 3 veins; seeds not mucilaginous when wet, in 1 row per loculus.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 90 species, temperate Asia, Europe & Mediterranean, southern Africa. Australia: 6 species, all States.
Text by L. Retter & G. J. Harden
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species | |
| 1 | Siliqua less than 2 cm long, conical, erect, at least pedicel closely appressed to stem | Sisymbrium officinale |
| Siliqua more than 2 cm long, linear, spreading from spreading pedicel | 2 |
| 2 | Flowers large, the petals more than 5 mm long, style more than 1 mm long; plants scabrous to pubescent | 3 |
| Flowers small, petals less than 5 mm long, style less than 1 mm long; plants glabrous or softly hairy
Back to 1 | 5 |
| 3 | Inflorescence with bracts; pedicels usually 5–20 mm long; cotyledons longitudinally folded | Sisymbrium thellungii |
| Inflorescence without bracts; pedicels less than 10 mm long; cotyledons flat
Back to 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Outer sepals not horned; upper leaves petiolate, entire or sagittate with the terminal lobe oblong or lanceolate | Sisymbrium orientale |
| Outer sepals horned; upper leaves more or less sessile, pinnatisect with the terminal lobe linear
Back to 3 | Sisymbrium altissimum |
| 5 | Siliqua curved, spreading; pedicel slender, 6–10 mm long; petals more than 2.5 mm long | Sisymbrium irio |
| Siliqua straight, horizontal; pedicel thick, 2–5 mm long; petals less than 2.5 mm long
Back to 2 | Sisymbrium erysimoides |
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