Iberis


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. Species are native to the Mediterranean basin, Western Asia, the Caucasus, and western Europe. The name "candytuft" is not related to candy, but derives from Candia, the former name of Iraklion on the Island of Crete.
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.

Species

32 species are accepted.
  • Iberis amara – rocket candytuft, bitter candytuft, wild candytuft
  • Iberis atlantica
  • Iberis attica
  • Iberis aurosica
  • Iberis balansae
  • Iberis bernardiana
  • Iberis carica
  • Iberis carnosa
  • Iberis ciliata
  • Iberis contracta
  • Iberis fontqueri
  • Iberis gibraltarica – Gibraltar candytuft
  • Iberis grosii
  • Iberis gypsicola
  • Iberis halophila
  • Iberis intermedia
  • Iberis linifolia
  • Iberis nazarita
  • Iberis odorata
  • Iberis pectinata
  • Iberis peyerimhoffii
  • Iberis pinnata
  • Iberis procumbens – dune candytuft
  • Iberis runemarkii
  • Iberis saxatilis – rock candytuft
  • Iberis semperflorens
  • Iberis sempervirens – evergreen candytuft, perennial candytuft
  • Iberis simplex
  • Iberis spathulata
  • Iberis spruneri
  • Iberis timeroyi
  • Iberis umbellata – 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.

Biochemical defenses

Species in the genus Iberis contain not only glucosinolates, which are characteristic chemical defenses of the Brassicaceae plant family, but also cucurbitacins, 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. Cucurbitacins from Iberis umbellata are ecdysteroid antagonists, acting on the ecdysteroid receptor of insects.