Iberis amara
{{Short description|Species of plant in the family Brassicaceae}}
{{Speciesbox
|image=Iberis amara saint-fuscien 80 19052007 4.jpg
|image_caption=In bloom at the Somme in May
|image2=Iberis amara 003.JPG
|image2_caption=Close up of flowers, showing asymmetrical petal arrangement
|genus=Iberis
|species=amara
|authority=L.Sp. Pl.: 649 (1753)
|synonyms={{Collapsible list|
- Biauricula amara (L.) Bubani
- Biauricula panduriformis Bubani
- Biauricula resedifolia (Pourr. ex Timb.-Lagr.) Bubani
- Crucifera iberis E.H.L.Krause
- Iberis affinis Jord.
- Iberis apricorum Giraudias
- Iberis arvatica Jord.
- Iberis bicolor Rchb.
- Iberis bicorymbifera Gren. & Godr.
- Iberis ciliata subsp. vinetorum (Pau) Mateo & M.B.Crespo
- Iberis contracta subsp. vinetorum (Pau) M.B.Crespo & Mateo
- Iberis crenata Lam.
- Iberis decipiens Jord.
- Iberis forestieri Jord.
- Iberis linifolia var. vinetorum (Pau) O.Bolòs & Vigo
- Iberis liviensis Sennen
- Iberis lusitanica Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Avé-Lall.
- Iberis martini Timb.-Lagr.
- Iberis montolivensis Timb.-Lagr.
- Iberis panduriformis Pourr.
- Iberis pinetorum Pau
- Iberis sabauda Puget
- Iberis serotina Sennen
- Iberis vinetorum Pau
- Thlaspi amarum (L.) Crantz
}}}}
Iberis amara, called wild candytuft, rocket candytuft and bitter candytuft, is a species of flowering plant in the family Brassicaceae, native to Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.{{cite web |title=Iberis amara wild candytuft |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/67753/i-Iberis-amara-i/Details |publisher=The Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=28 January 2021 |quote=Other common names; … annual candytuft, clown's mustard, … sciatica cress }}{{cite web |title=Iberis amara coronaria rocket candytuft |url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/159344/i-Iberis-amara-coronaria-i/Details |publisher=The Royal Horticultural Society |access-date=28 January 2021 }} It has been introduced to numerous locations including Algeria, Sweden, Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Iraq, Kazakhstan, the Indian Subcontinent, Korea, Far Eastern Russia, New Zealand, Argentina, Ecuador, Hispaniola, the United States, and Canada.{{cite web |url=http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:324660-2 |title=Iberis amara L. |author= |date=2017 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=28 January 2021 }} It prefers to grow in warm and sunny conditions, in high-calcium soil.{{cite journal |title=Iberis amara L. (Bittere Schleifenblume) – Profil einer Heilpflanze |year=2002 |last1=Reichling |first1=J. |last2=Saller |first2=R. |journal=Complementary Medicine Research |volume=9 |pages=21–33 |doi=10.1159/000068646 |pmid=12618547 |s2cid=202658365 }}
Description
I. amara is a branched erect annual typically {{cvt|10|-|30|cm|in|0}} tall, sometimes reaching {{cvt|40|cm|in}}. Its stems are more or less hairy below and glabrous above, with leaves scattered along their lengths. Leaf blades are simple, with those lower on the stem spathulate and reaching about {{cvt|8|cm|in|0}} long and {{cvt|1.2|cm|in|1}} wide, and those higher up lanceolate or oblong{{nbh}}cuneate and as small as {{cvt|3|cm|in}} long and {{cvt|0.4|cm|in|1}} wide. All are more or less sparsely dentate towards their apices.{{cite web |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=200009565 |title=1. Iberis amara |author= |date= |website=Flora of North America |publisher=efloras.org |access-date=28 February 2021 }}
The ebracteate inflorescence is a lax racemose corymb, bearing 10 to 30 flowers, and elongating to {{cvt|10|cm|in|0}} when in fruit. Individual flowers are about {{cvt|1|cm|in|1}} across, borne on a filiform pedicel, which is either spreading or ascending, and about {{cvt|1|cm|in|1}} long. There are four petals, which in wild{{nbh}}type individuals are white or pale violet, with cultivated varieties available in deeper shades of pink, violet or fuchsia.{{cite web |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=5&taxon_id=200009565 |title=Iberis amara |author= |date= |website=Flora of Pakistan |publisher=efloras.org |access-date=28 February 2021 }}
The petals are prominently unequal, with the outer two nearly twice as long as the sepals. This is controlled by the timing of the expression of the IaTCP1 gene (a member of the TCP protein domain family), which induces extra cell proliferation in the two larger petals, which are {{cvt|5|-|8|mm|in|1}} {{cvt|10|mm|in|1}} long, obovate-oblong, and cuneate beneath.{{cite journal |title=Control of corolla monosymmetry in the Brassicaceae Iberis amara |year=2007 |last1=Busch |first1=A. |last2=Zachgo |first2=S. |journal=Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences |volume=104 |issue=42 |pages=16714–16719 |doi=10.1073/pnas.0705338104 |pmid=17940055 |pmc=2034219 |bibcode=2007PNAS..10416714B |s2cid=31150448 |doi-access=free }}
The suborbicular siliculae (fruit) are typically {{cvt|5|mm|in|1}}, reaching {{cvt|7|mm|in|1}} in diameter, with deeply notched apices, and wings which widen somewhat towards the top. The styles are as long as or slightly exceed the apical notch, with valves that have reticulate veins. The reddish-brown seeds are about {{cvt|3|mm|in|1}} long, broadly ovate, and weakly winged beneath.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q141728}}
Category:Garden plants of Europe
Category:Flora of Great Britain