102 Candy Tuft. 



IBERIS— CANDY TUFT. 



Natural Order, Cruciferse. Linnaean Class, Tetradynamia ; Order, Silica 

 losa. Generic Distinctions : — two outer petals, largest; silicle, compresi. 

 ed, truncate, emargiuate. 



/. umbdlata. — Herbaceous, smooth ; leaves, lanceolate, acuminate ; lower 

 ones serrate, upper entire ; pods, umbellate, acutely three-lobed. — p^ 

 18. Fig.l. 



I. coronaria. — Pubescent; leaves, wedge-shaped, obtusely toothed; podg 

 corymbose, acutely two-lobcd, margins crenated ; seeds, winged ; stem 

 branched.— Plate 18. Fig. 2. 



The ancient name of Spain was Iberia, from which is 

 derived the name of this genus, some of the first known spe- 

 cies of which, came from that country, and were called Spanish 

 Tufts. Another species was brought from Candia, which 

 gave the common name of Candy Tufts to the whole genus. 

 They all possess the peculiar properties of the Cruciferae, 

 which we shall notice at length when that order is described 

 in its proper place. The seeds of all the Candy Tufts are 

 pungent, and have been used as mustard, and their leaves and 

 young shoots may be eaten as pot herbs. I. umbdlata is best 

 known as a garden plant. It is about a foot in height, with 

 spreading branches and large heads of purple flowers. It has 

 long been a favorite in the gardens of Great Britain, as well as 

 of this country — and is well known to every cultivator. Mrs. 

 Loudon gives th following directions for its culture, which are 

 probably as well suited to the meridian of New York as to 

 that of London. 



" It does best on a rich soil, if not too moist ; and as it will 

 not bear transplanting without serious injury, it should be sown 

 where it is to remain. As it looks well in masses, it may be 

 sown in square beds, mixed with mignonette, or a row may be 

 sown at the back of a border, and smaller flowers planted or 

 sown in front of it. It may be sown in autumn, or in March, 

 April, or May. When it is wished to have the flowers very 

 fine, the seed should be sown rather thinly in August or Sep- 

 tember ; and when the plants produce their second pair of 

 leaves, they should be thinned out. They should be kept 



