Iberis
Genus of flowering plants
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Iberis (/aɪˈbɪərɪs/ eye-BEER-iss),[2] 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.[3] Species are native to the Mediterranean basin (southern Europe and North Africa), Western Asia, the Caucasus, and western Europe.[1] The name "candytuft" is not related to candy, but derives from Candia, the former name of Iraklion on the Island of Crete.[4]
| Iberis | |
|---|---|
| |
| Perennial candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Iberis Dill. ex L. |
| Species | |
|
~30; see text | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Biauricula Bubani | |
They are used as ornamental plants for rock gardens, bedding, and borders in full sun or light shade.
In the language of flowers, the candytuft symbolizes indifference.[5]
Species
32 species are accepted.[1]
- Iberis amara L. – rocket candytuft, bitter candytuft, wild candytuft
- Iberis atlantica (Litard. & Maire) Greuter & Burdet
- Iberis attica Jord.
- Iberis aurosica Chaix
- Iberis balansae Jord.
- Iberis bernardiana Gren. & Godr.
- Iberis carica (Bornm.) Prain
- Iberis carnosa Willd.
- Iberis ciliata All.
- Iberis contracta Pers.
- Iberis fontqueri Pau
- Iberis gibraltarica L. – Gibraltar candytuft
- Iberis grosii Pau
- Iberis gypsicola Yıld.
- Iberis halophila Vural & H.Duman
- Iberis intermedia Guers.
- Iberis linifolia L.
- Iberis nazarita Moreno
- Iberis odorata L.
- Iberis pectinata Boiss. & Reut.
- Iberis peyerimhoffii Maire
- Iberis pinnata L.
- Iberis procumbens Lange – dune candytuft
- Iberis runemarkii Greuter & Burdet
- Iberis saxatilis L. – rock candytuft
- Iberis semperflorens L.
- Iberis sempervirens L. – evergreen candytuft, perennial candytuft
- Iberis simplex DC.
- Iberis spathulata DC.
- Iberis spruneri Jord.
- Iberis timeroyi Jord.
- Iberis umbellata L. – globe candytuft
Trophic connections
These plants provide nourishment for a number of insect species of which the rare Euchloe tagis butterfly is the most striking example as it is monophagous on species in this genus.[6][7]
Biochemical defenses
Species in the genus Iberis contain not only glucosinolates, which are characteristic chemical defenses of the Brassicaceae plant family, but also cucurbitacins,[8] 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 (cabbage butterfly).[9] Cucurbitacins from Iberis umbellata (globe candytuft) are ecdysteroid antagonists, acting on the ecdysteroid receptor of insects.[10]
