Annuals, biennials, perennials, or subshrubs [shrubs]; eglandular. Trichomes sessile, stellate or malpighiaceous. Cauline leaves petiolate or sessile; blade base not auriculate, margins entire, dentate, denticulate, dentate-sinuate, or repand. Racemes usually ebracteate [bracteate], elongated [not elongated] in fruit. Flowers actinomorphic; sepals erect, lateral pair saccate or not basally; petals usually yellow or orange, rarely pink or purple [white], claw present, distinct; filaments unappendaged, not winged; pollen 3-colpate. Fruits siliques [silicles], dehiscent, unsegmented, 4-angled, terete, or latiseptate, rarely angustiseptate; ovules [10-]15-100[-numerous] per ovary; style obsolete or distinct; stigma entire or 2-lobed. Seeds biseriate or uniseriate; cotyledons usually accumbent, rarely incumbent.

Genus 1, species ca. 150 (19 in the flora): North America, Mexico, Central America, Europe, Asia, n Africa, Atlantic Islands (Macaronesia).

Lower Taxon

• Erysimum Linnaeus