XVI International Botanical Congess

Supertribes of Brassicaceae reflect 3 main directions in the evolution of the family. They differ by the predominance of the characters of the adaptation level: presence or absence of fruit rostrum, gynophor, folded cotyledons, stamina extending the petals. The supertribe Sisymbriidinae V.Avet. (1990, Biol. Zhurn.Armenii 43, 7:602) has endemic genera in all continents, but Irano-Turanian region is the main center of generic diversity. The main centers of autochthon development of the supertribe Brassicidinae (l.c.) are in Mediterranean, Sacharo-Arabian and Cape regions. This branch of adaptive evolution is fixed mainly in Africa. Distribution of the supertribe Thelypodiidinae V.Avet.(l.c.) is limited mainly in N and S America. The homologous changeability of morphological and chemical structures observed among the supertribes is an evidence of their parallel evolution.