Author(s): Gideon Bowes
Mentor(s): Michael C. Rotter
Institution UVU
Brassicaceae, the mustard family, is a large family of plants containing 109 species across 39 genera in the Utah Valley. Brassicaceae is of important ecological interest as approximately 31% of species are non-native introduced plants in Utah Valley, and 5 species are classified as noxious weeds. Because of this, it is important to have an updated taxonomic treatment of the Brassicaceae family in Utah Valley. In this treatment we describe all 39 genera as well as create a dichotomous key in order to identify the genera. Genera were described using herbarium specimens as well as the database SEInet. As part of the treatment, we also use herbarium imaging to provide examples of key traits within the Brassicaceae family in order to make identification easier. This treatment is also part of a greater project to create an updated field guide for the Utah valley that includes all plant families present. The goal of The Field Manual of the Utah Valley Flora is to provide treatments to the families that are accessible to the beginner botanist. This is accomplished by having the treatments be written by the students themselves, using a lexicon more suited to their peers. The treatments are curated with this common objective in mind.