Brassicaceae is a large and complex family of considerable economic importance to humans. The family comprises 338 genera and 3709 species. Molecular phylogenetic analysis is not complete, but indicates a likely cladistic breakdown into about 33 tribes, which do not track perfectly with classical species morphologies.

Considerable activity has been conducted in the pursuit of maximizing productivity of various mustard and cabbage members of the family. Likewise considerable attention has been given to development of herbicides both for protection of Brassicaceae crops as well as control of wild weedy species of the family; benzothiadiazoles have been particularly effective in control of brassicaceae.

With the expanding use of Brassica and Arabidopsis species as model plant organisms, the family brassicaceae has assumed great importance in 21st century botany.