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 the species epithet comes from the Latin "umbel", meaning "umbrella" and refers to the shape of the inflorescence.

Description

The biological form of Iberis umbellata is hemicryptophyte ''scapose'', as its overwintering buds are situated just below the soil surface and the floral axis is more or less erect with a few leaves.
The stem is twisted at the base while the flowering branches are erect and leafy. This plant reaches a height of. The leaves are green and linear-lanceolate, long. The flowers are in umbel-shaped corymbs. The calyx is violet and the corolla is composed of four white, pink or purple petals. The petals are rounded at the apex, with the peripheral ones forming a large vexillum long. The flowering period extends from May through June. The flowers are hermaphroditic and pollinated by bees and butterflies. The fruit is a silique long.

Distribution

This species is native to the Mediterranean region. It is present in most of Europe, especially along the coasts, from Spain to Greece and in northern America.

Habitat

It grows in dry rocky hillsides, in bushy areas and in clearings, preferably on calcareous soils, at an altitude of above sea level.