Iberis

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Iberis
Perennial candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)
Scientific classification Edit this 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

Iberis (/ˈbɪərɪs/ 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]

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

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32 species are accepted.[1]

Trophic connections

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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

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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]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  2. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
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