Iberis amara Linn., Sp. Pl. 649. 1753. O.E.Schulz in Notizblat. 9:85.1927; Busch in Kom., l.c.552; Hedge in Rech.f., l.c.99.
Annual, erect, 10-30 (-40) cm tall, branched, ± hairy below and glabrous above. Leaves simple, scattered, lower spathulate, upper lanceolate or oblong¬cuneate, ± sparsely dentate towards the apex. Flowers c. 1 cm across, white or pale violet; pedicel filiform, spreading or ascending, usually c. 1 cm long. Petals prominently unequal, outer 2 nearly twice as long as sepals, 5-8 (-10) mm long, obovate-oblong, cuneate below. Siliculae c. 5 (-7) mm in diam., suborbicular, apex deeply notched; wings slightly broadening upwards; style as long as or slightly exceeding the apical notch; valves reticulately veined; seed c. 3 mm long, broadly ovate, slightly winged below, reddish-brown.
F1.Per.: Feb.-April.
Type: Described from Europe, Switzerland.
Distribution: A native of W.Europe, widely introduced and cultivated almost all over the world as an ornamental.
Candytuft is a common ornamental plant in our gardens.