''Arabis'' ,''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607 or rockcress, is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (). The term angiosperm is derived from the Ancient Greek, Greek words (; 'container, vessel') and (; 'seed'), meaning that the seeds are enclosed with ...

s, within the family

Brassicaceae Brassicaceae () or (the older but equally valid) Cruciferae () is a medium-sized and economically important Family (biology), family of flowering plants commonly known as the mustards, the crucifers, or the cabbage family. Most are herbaceous pla ...

Description

The species are

herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of ...

, annual or

perennial plant In horticulture, the term perennial (''wikt:per-#Prefix, per-'' + ''wikt:-ennial#Suffix, -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annual plant, annuals and biennial plant, biennials. It has thus been d ...

s, growing to 10–80 cm tall, usually densely hairy, with simple entire to lobed

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

1–6 cm long, and small white four-petaled

flower Flowers, also known as blooms and blossoms, are the reproductive structures of flowering plants ( angiosperms). Typically, they are structured in four circular levels, called whorls, around the end of a stalk. These whorls include: calyx, m ...

s. The

fruit In botany, a fruit is the seed-bearing structure in flowering plants (angiosperms) that is formed from the ovary after flowering. Fruits are the means by which angiosperms disseminate their seeds. Edible fruits in particular have long propaga ...

is a long, slender capsule containing 10-20 or more

seed In botany, a seed is a plant structure containing an embryo and stored nutrients in a protective coat called a ''testa''. More generally, the term "seed" means anything that can be Sowing, sown, which may include seed and husk or tuber. Seeds ...

s. Natural habitat for ''Arabis'' species is rocky mountain/cliff sides or dry sites. Cultivation of ''Arabis'' is best suited for rock gardens or container gardens. This genus is pollinated by members of Apieae and Lepidoptera. Arabis aculeolata 4642

Taxonomy

Though traditionally recognized as a large genus with many Old World and

New World The term "New World" is used to describe the majority of lands of Earth's Western Hemisphere, particularly the Americas, and sometimes Oceania."America." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (). McArthur, Tom, ed., 1992. New York: ...

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''.

Species

;Selected species *'' Arabis aculeolata'' *'' Arabis alpina'' (alpine rockcress) *'' Arabis armena'' (Armenian rockcress) *'' Arabis auriculata'' *'' 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 plant Ornamental plants or ''garden plants'' are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars th ...

s in

garden A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the cultivation, display, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The single feature identifying even the wildest wild garden is ''control''. The garden can incorporate bot ...

s. Many others are regarded as

weed A weed is a plant considered undesirable in a particular situation, growing where it conflicts with human preferences, needs, or goals.Harlan, J. R., & deWet, J. M. (1965). Some thoughts about weeds. ''Economic botany'', ''19''(1), 16-24. Pla ...

References

External links

Natural History Museum
{{Authority control Brassicaceae genera