''Lobularia'' 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 ...

of five

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

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 in 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, closely related to (and formerly often included in) the genus ''

Alyssum ''Alyssum'' is a genus of over a hundred species of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean region. The genus comprises annual plant, annu ...

''. The genus is native to

Macaronesia Macaronesia (Portuguese: ''Macaronésia,'' Spanish: ''Macaronesia'') is a collection of four volcanic archipelagos in the North Atlantic, off the coasts of Africa and Europe. Each archipelago is made up of a number of List of islands in the At ...

and the

Mediterranean region In biogeography, the Mediterranean Basin (; also known as the Mediterranean Region or sometimes Mediterranea) is the region of lands around the Mediterranean Sea that have mostly a Mediterranean climate, with mild to cool, rainy winters and wa ...

, and comprises

annual Annual may refer to: *Annual publication, periodical publications appearing regularly once per year ** Yearbook ** Literary annual *Annual plant *Annual report *Annual giving *Annual, Morocco, a settlement in northeastern Morocco *Annuals (band), ...

s and

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 growing to tall, with hairy oblong-oval leaves and clusters of cross-shaped (cruciform), fragrant white flowers. The name ''Lobularia'' derives from the Greek for a small pod, referring to the fruits. ;Selected species *''

Lobularia canariensis ''Lobularia'' is the scientific name of several genera of organisms and may refer to: * ''Lobularia'' (coral), a genus of corals in the family Alcyoniidae * ''Lobularia'' (fungus) Velen. 1934, a genus of fungi in the order Helotiales * ''Lobular ...

'' *''

Lobularia libyca ''Lobularia'' is the scientific name of several genera of organisms and may refer to: * ''Lobularia'' (coral), a genus of corals in the family Alcyoniidae * ''Lobularia'' (fungus) Velen. 1934, a genus of fungi in the order Helotiales * ''Lobular ...

'' *''

Lobularia intermedia ''Lobularia'' is the scientific name of several genera of organisms and may refer to: * ''Lobularia'' (coral), a genus of corals in the family Alcyoniidae * ''Lobularia'' (fungus) Velen. 1934, a genus of fungi in the order Helotiales * ''Lobular ...

'' (syn. ''L. canariensis'' subsp. ''intermedia'') *''

Lobularia marginata ''Lobularia'' is the scientific name of several genera of organisms and may refer to: * ''Lobularia'' (coral), a genus of corals in the family Alcyoniidae * ''Lobularia'' (fungus) Velen. 1934, a genus of fungi in the order Helotiales * ''Lobular ...

'' (syn. ''L. canariensis'' subsp. ''marginata'') *''

Lobularia maritima ''Lobularia maritima'' ( syn. ''Alyssum maritimum'') is a species of low-growing flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae. Its common name is sweet alyssum or , also commonly referred to as just alyssum (from the genus ''Alyssum'' in which it ...

Cultivation and uses

''Lobularia maritima'' (sweet alyssum; syn. ''Alyssum maritimum'') is a very popular

garden A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is ''control''. The garden can incorporate both ...

plant; it has become widely

naturalised Naturalization (or naturalisation) is the legal act or process by which a non-citizen of a country may acquire citizenship or nationality of that country. It may be done automatically by a statute, i.e., without any effort on the part of the i ...

throughout the temperate world.

References

External links

''Lobularia canariensis''
(in Spanish; photo)

(in Spanish; photo) Brassicaceae Brassicaceae genera {{Brassicales-stub