''Iberis'' , commonly called candytuft, is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

s belonging to the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Brassicaceae. It comprises annuals,

evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...

perennial A perennial plant or simply perennial is a plant that lives more than two years. The term ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the years") is often used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. The term is also wide ...

s and

subshrub A subshrub (Latin ''suffrutex'') or dwarf shrub is a short shrub, and is a woody plant. Prostrate shrub is a related term. "Subshrub" is often used interchangeably with "bush".Jackson, Benjamin, Daydon; A Glossary of Botanic Terms with their Der ...

native Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and entert ...

to the Old World. The name "candytuft" is not related to candy, but derives from ''Candia'', the former name of

Iraklion Heraklion or Iraklion ( ; el, Ηράκλειο, , ) is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete and capital of Heraklion regional unit. It is the fourth largest city in Greece with a population of 211,370 (Urban A ...

on the Island of Crete. In the language of flowers, the candytuft symbolizes indifference.

Species

''Iberis'' consists of about 30 species of annuals, perennials and evergreen subshrubs. Some of the better known are: '' Iberis amara'' - rocket candytuft, bitter candytuft, wild candytuft
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Iberis ciliata ''Iberis'' , commonly called candytuft, is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family (biology), family Brassicaceae. It comprises annual plant, annuals, evergreen perennial plant, perennials and subshrubs native plant, native to the Old ...

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Iberis gibraltarica ''Iberis gibraltarica'', the Gibraltar candytuft, is a flowering plant of the genus ''Iberis'' and the family Brassicaceae. It is the symbol of the Upper Rock Nature Reserve in Gibraltar, but is a native of North Africa. Gibraltar is the only ...

'' - Gibraltar candytuft
''

Iberis linifolia ''Iberis linifolia'' is a herbaceous annual flowering plant of the genus ''Iberis'' and the family Brassicaceae Brassicaceae () or (the older) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important family of flowering plants commonly known ...

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Iberis procumbens ''Iberis'' , commonly called candytuft, is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Brassicaceae. It comprises annuals, evergreen perennials and subshrubs native to the Old World. The name "candytuft" is not related to candy, but deri ...

'' - dune candytuft
''

Iberis saxatilis ''Iberis saxatilis'', the rock candytuft, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, native to southern Europe and northwest Africa. The species is typically used as an ornamental rock and alpine garden perennial plant because of ...

'' - rock candytuft
''

Iberis sempervirens ''Iberis sempervirens'', the evergreen candytuft or perennial candytuft, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, native to southern Europe. The species is often used as an ornamental garden shrub because of its decorative flow ...

'' - evergreen candytuft, perennial candytuft
''

Iberis umbellata ''Iberis umbellata'', common name garden candytuft or globe candytuft, is a herbaceous annual flowering plant of the genus ''Iberis'' and the family Brassicaceae. Etymology The genus name derives from "Iberia", the ancient name of Spain, while ...

'' - globe candytuft They are used as ornamental plants for rock gardens, bedding, and borders in full sun or light shade.

Trophic connections

These plants provide nourishment for a number of insect species of which the rare ''

Euchloe tagis ''Euchloe tagis'', the Portuguese dappled white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It ranges through southern Europe where it is found from Portugal to northwestern Italy and northern Africa (there are local populations in Morocco and Alge ...

'' butterfly is the most striking example as it is monophagous on species in this genus.

Biochemical defenses

Species in the genus ''Iberis'' contain not only glucosinolates, which are characteristic chemical defenses of the Brassicaceae plant family, but also

cucurbitacins Cucurbitacin is a class of biochemical compounds that some plants – notably members of the pumpkin and gourd family, Cucurbitaceae – produce and which function as a defence against herbivores. Cucurbitacins are chemically classified as t ...

, which are better known as chemical defenses in the Cucurbitaceae plant family. Cucurbitacins from ''Iberis amara'' have antifeedant activity against the Brassicaceae-feeding specialist ''

Pieris rapae ''Pieris rapae'' is a small- to medium-sized butterfly species of the whites-and-yellows family Pieridae. It is known in Europe as the small white, in North America as the cabbage white or cabbage butterfly, on several continents as the small ca ...

'' (

cabbage butterfly Cabbage white or cabbage butterfly may refer to: * ''Pieris brassicae'', a Palearctic butterfly * ''Pieris rapae ''Pieris rapae'' is a small- to medium-sized butterfly species of the whites-and-yellows family Pieridae. It is known in Europe a ...

). Cucurbitacins from ''

'' ( globe candytuft) are ecdysteroid antagonists, acting on the ecdysteroid receptor of insects.

References

External links

More information at Texas A&M
Brassicaceae genera Medicinal plants {{Brassicales-stub