Iberis sempervirens
Evergreen candytuft (Iberis sempervirens)
The Evergreen candytuft (Iberis sempervirens) is an evergreen, Spreading shrub with white flowers from the family of cruciferous plants (Brassicaceae ). The natural range is in Europe. The species is frequently used because of the decorative flowers as an ornamental shrub.
Description
The Evergreen Candytuft is an evergreen, Spreading subshrub to 30 centimeters high. The leaf blade of the leaves is simple, leathery, 1-3 rarely 5 inches long, 2-5 mm wide, oblong spatulate to lanceolate, obtuse with pointed base, entire and glabrous.
The flowers are arranged in pendant, 3 to 4 inches wide grapes that are extended to the fruit ripening turns. The sepals are 2-4 mm long, oblong or ovate. The petals are white and stain the fading light pink. Adaxial the pair 3 to 6 mm long and 1-3 mm wide, the abaxial 5 to 13 mm long and 2-7 mm wide. The species blooms in May. The fruits are rounded to broadly ovate, 6-8 mm long and 5-6 mm wide. The seeds are winged and narrow 2 to 3 millimeters long.
The chromosome number is 2n = 22
Distribution and habitat requirements
The natural range is in Europe in Spain, France, Italy and the Balkan Peninsula; in Africa in Morocco and Algeria, and in Asia in Syria and Turkey. In the British Isles, in Romania but also in North and South America, the species has been naturalized. The Evergreen candytuft grows in steppes and dry forests on moderately dry to moderately moist, slightly acidic to alkaline, sandy- loamy to loamy, fertile soil in full sun to light shade locations. The species is thermophilic and frost hardy. The distribution area is the hardiness zone 6a associated with mean annual minimum temperatures -23.3 to -20.6 ° C ( -10 to -5 ° F).
System
The Evergreen candytuft (Iberis sempervirens ) is a species of the genus loop Flowers ( Celastrus ) in the family of cruciferous plants ( Brassicaceae). There, the genus of the tribe Iberideae is assigned. She was described in 1753 by Carolus Linnaeus in Species Plantarum first time scientifically. The chosen means of Iberis genus name is derived from the Latin hiberis for as toxic respected, cress -like group of plants. The specific epithet sempervirens also comes from Latin and means " always flourish ."
Synonyms of species are
- Aethionema longistylum Post
- Biauricula sempervirens (L.) Bubani
- Iberis garrexiana All.
- Iberis serrulata Vis.
Use
The Evergreen Candytuft is widely used due to the decorative flowers as an ornamental plant.