Botanical Nerd Word: Cruciate

Dame's rocket (hesperis matronalis) bloom showing its 4 petals arranged in a cross shape

Cruciate (cruciform):  Cross-shaped, used especially of the flowers of the Brassicaceae family.*

The 4-petalled flowers of Brassicaceae (mustard family) plants, such as this dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis) are characteristically arranged in a cross shape.

*Jackson, B. Daydon. (1928). A glossary of botanic terms (4th ed.). New York: Hafner Publishing Co.