Online Flora of the Maltese Islands by Stephen Mifsud
 
     
   14 Aug 2026      ()
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Index of Plant Families (5 families in this page)

BRASSICALES - The Crucifers and allies
BRASSICACEAE
Mustard or Cress
CAPPARIDACEAE
Caper
CARICACEAE
Papaya
RESEDACEAE
Mignonette
TROPAEOLACEAE
Nasturtium
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BRASSICACEAE
Juss.

( Mustard or Cress Family )
Conservative synonym: Cruciferae

Subfamalies: nil.
Family Description: Brassicaceae, also known as the mustard or crucifer family, is a large and economically important group of flowering plants within the order Brassicales. It includes over 370 genera and more than 4,000 species, with a global distribution but greatest diversity in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Most members are herbaceous annuals, biennials, or perennials, though some are shrubs. They typically have a taproot system, often modified for storage in species like radish and turnip. Stems are usually erect, herbaceous, and may be branched or unbranched, often covered with simple or branched hairs. Leaves are alternate, simple or pinnately lobed, exstipulate, and often form basal rosettes. They may emit a pungent odor due to sulfur-containing glucosinolates. Inflorescences are usually racemose, and flowers are actinomorphic, bisexual, and tetramerous. The calyx has four sepals in two whorls, and the corolla has four petals arranged in a cross-like (cruciform) pattern. Stamens are typically six, with two shorter outer and four longer inner ones—a condition known as tetradynamous. The ovary is superior, bicarpellary, and syncarpous, with parietal placentation and a false septum (replum) dividing it into two chambers. Fruits are usually siliques or silicles, dehiscent capsules that split open to release seeds. Seeds are endospermic with a curved embryo.
Botanical Name Common Name Maltese Name Flowering Period Thumbnail Picture Profile Type
Biscutella didyma subsp. didyma
L.

Main Synonym :
Biscutella eriocarpa DC.
Buckler Mustard,
Mediterranean Biscutella 		Xeħt il-forom Feb-Apr Normal Profile
with

images.
Brassica napus
L.

Main Synonym :
Rapa napus Mill.
Rapeseed,
Oilseed Rape,
Swede 		Nevew Feb-Apr Normal Profile
with

images.
Brassica nigra
W.D.J.Koch

Main Synonym :
Brassica bracteolata Fisch. & C.A.Mey.
Black Mustard Mustarda sewda Mar-Apr Normal Profile
with

images.
Brassica oleracea
L.

Main Synonym :
Brassica sylvestris Mill.
Wild Cabbage,
Cabbage,
Cauliflower 		Kaboċċa selvaġġa,
Kaboċċa 		Mar-May Normal Profile
with

images.
Brassica rapa subsp. sylvestris
(L.) Lam. & Janchen

Main Synonym :
Brassica campestris L.
Wild Turnip,
Bargeman's Cabbage 		Liftija Nov-Apr Detailed Profile
with

images.
Cakile maritima
Scop.

Main Synonym :
Bunias cakile L.
Sea Rocket,
European Sea Rocket 		Kromb il-baħar Dec-Aug Normal Profile
with

images.
Capsella bursa-pastoris
Medik.

Main Synonym :
Capsella apetala Opiz
Shepherd's Purse Ġarġir il-ġemel Dec-Jun Normal Profile
with

images.
Capsella rubella
Reut.

Main Synonym :
Capsella bursa-pastoris var. rubella (Reut.) Hobk.
Red Shepherd's Purse,
Pink Shepherd's Purse 		Ġarġir il-ġemel ħamra Dec-Jun Normal Profile
with

images.
Cardamine flexuosa
With.

Main Synonym :
Cardamine hirsuta subsp. flexuosa O.E.Schulz
Wavy Bittercress,
Woodland Bittercress 		Maltese name not known Feb-Jun Normal Profile
with

images.
Cardamine hirsuta
L.

Main Synonym :
Cardamine umbrosa Wimm. & Grab.
Hairy Bittercress,
Land Cress,
Lamb's Cress 		Maltese name not known Feb-Jun Normal Profile
with

images.
Coincya tournefortii
(Gouan) Alcaraz, T.E.Díaz, Rivas Mart. & Sánchez-Gómez

Main Synonym :
Erucastrum tournefortii Link
Brassica tournefortii Gouan
Tournefort's Cabbage,
Sahara Mustard,
Asian Mustard 		Kaboċċa ta' Twurneforti Mar-Apr Normal Profile
with

images.
Conringia orientalis
(L.) Dumortier

Main Synonym :
Conringia austriaca (Jacq.) Sweet
Hare's Ear Mustard,
Hare's Ear Cabbage 		Maltese name not known Jun-Sep Normal Profile
with

images.
Descurainia sophia
(L.) Webb ex Prantl

Main Synonym :
Sisymbrium sophia L.
Flixweed,
Tansy Mustard,
Herb Sophia 		Maltese name not known May-Jul Normal Profile
with

images.
Diplotaxis erucoides
(L.) DC.

Main Synonym :
Sinapis erucoides L.
White Wall Rocket,
White Rocket 		Ġarġir abjad Oct-May Detailed Profile
with

images.
Diplotaxis tenuifolia
(L.) DC.

Main Synonym :
Diplotaxis fruticulosa Tod. ex Caruel
Perennial Wall Rocket,
Sand Rocket,
Slim-leaved Wall Rocket 		Ġarġir isfar Oct-Jun Detailed Profile
with

images.
Diplotaxis viminea
(L.) DC.

Main Synonym :
Diplotaxis prolongoi Boiss.
Southern Rocket Aruka selvaġġa Jan-Apr Normal Profile
with

images.
Draba verna
L.

Main Synonym :
Erophila vulgaris DC.
Erophila verna (L.) DC.
Common Whitlow Grass Maltese name not known Feb-Apr Normal Profile
with

images.
Enarthrocarpus pterocarpus
(Pers.) DC.

Main Synonym :
Raphanus pterocarpus Pers.
Winged Radish Ravanell tal-Eġittu Mar-Apr Normal Profile
with

images.
Eruca vesicaria
(L.) Cav.

Main Synonym :
Eruca sativa (L.) Mill.
Salad Mustard,
Rucola,
Spiked Rocket 		Aruka,
Rukola 		Apr-May Normal Profile
with

images.
Erysimum cheiri
(L.) Crantz

Main Synonym :
Cheiranthus cheiri L.
Wallflower,
English Wallflower,
Aegean Wallflower 		Ġiżi safra Mar-Apr Normal Profile
with

images.
Hirschfeldia incana
(L.) Lagr.-Foss.

Main Synonym :
Brassica adpressa Boiss.
Hoary Mustard,
Short-podded Mustard,
Buchan Weed 		Mustarda selvaġġa Feb-May Detailed Profile
with

images.
Hornungia procumbens subsp. revelierei
(Jord.) Giardina & Raimondo

Main Synonym :
Hutchinsia procumbens forma sommieri Pamp.
Hymenolobus revelierei subsp. sommieri (Pamp.) Brullo
Maltese Hymenolobus Ġargir ta' Kemmuna Feb-May Normal Profile
with

images.
Lepidium didymum
L.

Main Synonym :
Cochlearia humifusa Michx.
Coronopus didymus (L.) Sm.
Lesser Swine Cress Koronopu tal-wied Mar-May Normal Profile
with

images.
Lepidium draba
L.

Main Synonym :
Lepidium arvense Mill.
Cardaria draba Desv.
Whitetop Plant,
Hoary Cress 		Maltese name not known Apr-May Normal Profile
with

images.
Lepidium graminifolium
L.

Main Synonym :
Lepidium suffruticosum L.
Grass-leaved Pepperwort,
Grass-leaved Pepperweed 		Buttuniera wieqfa May-Oct Normal Profile
with

images.
Lepidium sativum
L.

Main Synonym :
Nasturtium sativum Moench
Garden Cress,
Garden Cress Pepperweed 		Maltese name not known May-Jul Normal Profile
with

images.
Lepidium squamatum
(L.) Al-Shehbaz

Main Synonym :
Cochlearia coronopus L.
Coronopus squamatus (Forrskål) Ascherson
Swine Cress,
Greater Swinecress 		Koronopu Feb-Jun Normal Profile
with

images.
Lobularia maritima
(L.) Desv.

Main Synonym :
Alyssum maritimum (L.) Lam.
Sweet Alyssum,
Sweet Alison 		Buttuniera Oct-Jun Detailed Profile
with

images.
Matthiola incana subsp. incana
(L.) W.T.Aiton

Main Synonym :
Matthiola glabra DC.
Hoary Stocks,
Tenweek's Stock,
Brampton Stock 		Giżi Feb-May Normal Profile
with

images.
Matthiola incana subsp. melitensis
Brullo, Lanfr., Pavone & Ronsisv.

Main Synonym :
No synonyms for this species
Maltese Stocks Giżi ta' Malta Mar-May Normal Profile
with

images.
Matthiola longipetala
DC.

Main Synonym :
Cheiranthus longipetalus Vent.
Night-scented Stock,
Evening Scent 		Giżi ta' lejl Apr-May Normal Profile
with

images.
Matthiola lunata
DC.

Main Synonym :
Matthiola glandulosa Pomel
Spanish stocks Giżi ta' Spanja Apr-May Normal Profile
with

images.
Matthiola tricuspidata
(L.) W.T.Aiton

Main Synonym :
Cheiranthus tricuspidatus L.
Three-horned Stocks Ġiżi tal-baħar Mar-Jun Normal Profile
with

images.
Nasturtium officinale
R. Br.

Main Synonym :
Nasturtium aquaticum Wahlenb.
Watercress Krexxuni,
Sija 		Feb-May Normal Profile
with

images.
Neslia paniculata subsp. thracica
(Velen.) Bornm.

Main Synonym :
Neslia apiculata Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Avé-Lall.
Ball mustard Maltese name not known Feb-Apr Normal Profile
with

images.
Noccaea perfoliata
(L.) Al-Shehbaz

Main Synonym :
Thlaspi perfoliatum L.
Perfoliate Penny Cress Maltese name not known Jan-Jun Normal Profile
with

images.
Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. landra
(Moretti ex DC.) Bonnier & Layens

Main Synonym :
Raphanistrum landra Rchb.
Italian Wild Radish Maltese name not known Apr-Sep Normal Profile
with

images.
Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. maritimus
(Sm.) Thell.

Main Synonym :
Raphanus maritimus Sm.
Maritime Wild radish Ravanell salvaġġ tal-baħar Apr-Sep Normal Profile
with

images.
Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. raphanistrum
L.

Main Synonym :
Raphanus sylvestris Lam.
Wild Radish,
Jointed-podded Charlock,
White Charlock 		Ravanell salvaġġ Dec-May Detailed Profile
with

images.
Raphanus sativus
L.

Main Synonym :
Raphanus raphanistrum subsp. sativus (L.) Domin
Garden Radish,
Cultivated Radish 		Ravanell May-Aug Normal Profile
with

images.
Rapistrum rugosum
(L.) All.

Main Synonym :
Myagrum rugosum L.
Annual Bastard Cabbage,
Turnip Weed 		Mustarda taż-żibeġ Feb-Apr Normal Profile
with

images.
Sinapis alba
L.

Main Synonym :
Brassica alba (L.) Rabenh.
White Mustard,
White Charlock,
Yellow Mustard 		Mustarda,
Mustarda Bajda 		Dec-Apr Detailed Profile
with

images.
Sinapis arvensis
L.

Main Synonym :
Brassica arvensis (L.) Rabenh.
Charlock,
Charlock Mustard 		Mustarda selvaġġa Jan-May Normal Profile
with

images.
Sisymbrium altissimum
L.

Main Synonym :
Sisymbrium pannonicum Jacq.
Tumble Mustard,
Tall Tumble Mustard,
Tall Rocket 		Maltese name not known Apr-Jul Normal Profile
with

images.
Sisymbrium irio
L.

Main Synonym :
Sisymbrium erysimastrum Lam.
London Rocket Libsiena komuni Feb-Jun Normal Profile
with

images.
Sisymbrium officinale
(L.) Scop.

Main Synonym :
Erysimum officinale L.
Hedge Mustard,
Tumble Weed,
Hedge Wild Mustard 		Mustarda rqiqa,
Libsiena 		Mar-Jun Detailed Profile
with

images.
Sisymbrium orientale
L.

Main Synonym :
Sisymbrium columnae Jacq.
Oriental Hedge Mustard,
Indian Hedge Mustard,
Eastern Rocket 		Maltese name not known Mar-Jun Normal Profile
with

images.


CAPPARIDACEAE
Juss.

( Caper Family )

Subfamalies: nil.
Family Description: Capparidaceae, traditionally known as the caper family, is a group of flowering plants now often included within or closely allied to Brassicaceae and Cleomaceae under modern classifications. It comprises about 45 genera and 700 species, primarily distributed in tropical and subtropical regions. Members range from herbs (e.g., Cleome) to shrubs (Capparis) and small trees (Crataeva). Many are adapted to arid environments, with some species like Capparis aphylla lacking leaves entirely. Leaves are typically alternate, simple or palmately compound, with stipules that may be modified into spines or glands. Stems are often woody, branched, and cylindrical. Flowers are usually actinomorphic, bisexual, and tetramerous, though zygomorphy occurs in some species. A gynophore (elongated stalk bearing the ovary) is often present. The calyx has four free sepals, and the corolla has four free petals with imbricate or valvate aestivation. Stamens range from four to numerous, often forming a conspicuous tuft. The ovary is superior, unilocular, with parietal placentation. Fruits vary from siliques (e.g., Cleome) to berries (Capparis) or drupes (Roydsia), and seeds are typically exalbuminous with a curved embryo. Pollination is usually entomophilous, and some species exhibit dichogamy.
Botanical Name Common Name Maltese Name Flowering Period Thumbnail Picture Profile Type
Capparis orientalis
Duhamel

Main Synonym :
Capparis spinosa subsp. rupestris (Sm.) Nyman
Caper bush,
Spineless Caper 		Kappar Apr-Aug Normal Profile
with

images.
Capparis spinosa
L.

Main Synonym :
Capparis parviflora Hook.f. & Thomson
Spiny Caper Kappar tax-xewk Apr-Aug Normal Profile
with

images.


CARICACEAE
Dumort.

( Papaya Family )

Subfamalies: nil.
Family Description: Caricaceae is a small but distinctive family of flowering plants in the order Brassicales, best known for its most famous member: Carica papaya (papaya). The family includes about six genera and 30–35 species, primarily distributed in tropical Central and South America, with a few species in Africa. Most members are short-lived, soft-wooded trees or shrubs, though some (Jarilla) are herbaceous and one (Vasconcellea horovitziana) is a liana. Plants typically have milky latex, and stems are often unbranched, bearing a terminal crown of large, palmately lobed or entire leaves. Leaves are alternate, exstipulate, and long-petioled. Flowers are unisexual (plants are monoecious or dioecious), often with floral polymorphism. Male flowers are usually borne in pendant racemes, with a tubular, gamopetalous corolla and 10 stamens in two whorls. Female flowers are often solitary or in small clusters, with free or basally united petals, and a superior ovary that is unilocular with parietal placentation. Styles are short, ending in five stigmas, which may be bifid or branched. Fruits are typically large berries, like the papaya, containing many seeds embedded in a mucilaginous pulp. Seeds are endospermic, often with a sculptured testa.
Botanical Name Common Name Maltese Name Flowering Period Thumbnail Picture Profile Type
Carica papaya
L.

Main Synonym :
Papaya vulgaris DC.
Papaya Papajja,
Siġra tal-Papajja 		Mar-Apr Normal Profile
with

images.


RESEDACEAE
S.F. Gray

( Mignonette Family )

Subfamalies: nil.
Family Description: Resedaceae, commonly known as the mignonette or reseda family, is a small group of predominantly herbaceous plants in the order Brassicales. The family is composed of roughly 80 to 107 species grouped into about 8 to 12 genera, with Reseda being the most well-known and widely studied genus. These plants are usually annual or perennial herbs—and in some cases, small shrubs—characterized by simple, alternately arranged leaves. Many members bear glandular hairs on their foliage that secrete a sticky, resinous substance, a trait that can impart a distinctive aroma and may serve in defense. The flowers tend to be modest in size and are often arranged in dense spikes or clusters. Although not showy, their intricate floral structures and the subsequent formation of capsules that release multiple seeds highlight subtle reproductive adaptations suited to their typically dry, rocky, or disturbed habitats. Geographically, Resedaceae species are largely distributed across temperate and Mediterranean regions of Europe, western Asia, and North Africa—with some species also occurring in parts of North America. Recent molecular studies have further refined our understanding of the family's relationships, indicating that some genera might be nested within others, which has implications for their taxonomic revision and classification v
Botanical Name Common Name Maltese Name Flowering Period Thumbnail Picture Profile Type
Reseda alba
L.

Main Synonym :
Reseda fruticulosa L.
White Mignonette,
White Upright Mignonette,
Upright Mignonette 		Denb il-ħaruf abjad Dec-May Normal Profile
with

images.
Reseda lutea
L.

Main Synonym :
Reseda mucronata Tineo
Wild Mignonette,
Yellow Mignonette 		Denb il-ħaruf isfar Apr-Jul Normal Profile
with

images.


TROPAEOLACEAE
DC.

( Nasturtium Family )

Subfamalies: nil.
Family Description: Tropaeolaceae is a small family best known for its single genus, Tropaeolum, which comprises roughly 80–95 species of annual and perennial herbaceous plants native to the Americas, especially from Mexico to the southern regions of South America. These plants are instantly recognizable by their unique, peltate leaves—where the petiole attaches at or near the center of the circular leaf blade—and their eye-catching, zygomorphic flowers that usually display five petals and a conspicuous nectar spur. The vivid palette of their blossoms, which can range from deep reds to bright oranges and radiant yellows, has made them popular not only as ornamental garden plants but also a culinary delight; both the leaves and flowers possess a pleasantly peppery flavor that can enhance salads and other dishes. Their attractive floral morphology also plays a pivotal role in ecological interactions by luring pollinators such as bees and hummingbirds, thereby underscoring their adaptive significance in diverse habitats.
Botanical Name Common Name Maltese Name Flowering Period Thumbnail Picture Profile Type
Tropaeolum majus
L.

Main Synonym :
Trophaeum majus Kuntze
Garden Nasturtium,
Indian Cress,
Monk's Cress 		Kapuċċinella,
Kaboċċinella 		Oct-Apr Detailed Profile
with

images.

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