Wikipedia

Arabis

Also found in: Dictionary, Encyclopedia.
Arabis
Arabis ferdinandi-coburgii.JPG
Arabis ferdinandi-coburgii
Scientific classification e
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Arabis
L.
Species

See text

Arabis /ˈærəbɪs/,[1] or rockcress, is a genus of flowering plants, within the family Brassicaceae.

Description

The species are herbaceous, annual or perennial plants, growing to 10–80 cm tall, usually densely hairy, with simple entire to lobed leaves 1–6 cm long, and small white four-petaled flowers. The fruit is a long, slender capsule containing 10-20 or more seeds. Natural habitat for Arabis species is rocky mountain/cliff sides or dry sites[2] Cultivation of Arabis is best suited for rock gardens or container gardens.[1] This genus is pollinated by members of Apieae and Lepidoptera.[2]

Arabis procurrens flowers
Arabis aculeolata
Siliques of Arabis turrita

Taxonomy

Though traditionally recognized as a large genus with many Old World and New World members, more recent evaluations of the relationships among these species using genetic data suggest there are two major groups within the old genus Arabis. These two groups are not each other's closest relatives, so have been split into two separate genera. Most of the Old World members remain in the genus Arabis, whereas most of the New World members have been moved into the genus Boechera, with only a few remaining in Arabis.[3][4]

Species

Selected species
  • Arabis aculeolata
  • Arabis alpina (alpine rockcress)
  • Arabis armena (Armenian rockcress)
  • Arabis blepharophylla (coast rockcress)
  • Arabis caucasica
  • Arabis cypria
  • Arabis glabra (tower mustard)
  • Arabis hirsuta (hairy rockcress)
  • Arabis kazbegi (Kazbegian rockcress)
  • Arabis kennedyae
  • Arabis lemmonii
  • Arabis macdonaldiana
  • Arabis procurrens (spreading rock cress)
  • Arabis pycnocarpa (slender rock cress)
  • Arabis scabra (Bristol rockcress)
  • Arabis serotina

Cultivation

Some species, notably Arabis alpina, are cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens. Many others are regarded as weeds.

References

  1. ^ a b Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
  2. ^ a b "Arabis caucasica Rock Cress, Wall Rockcress PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  3. ^ Al-Shehbaz, Ihsan. Transfer of most North American species of Arabis to Boechera (Brassicaceae). Novon 13: 381-391 (2003)
  4. ^ Al-Shehbaz, Ihsan. Nomenclatural Notes on Eurasian Arabis (Brassicaceae). Novon 15: 519-524 (2005)

External links

This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia® - the free encyclopedia created and edited by its online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of Wikipedia® encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information, please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.

Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.