Alyssum
Alyssum is a genus of about 100–170 species of flowering plants in the family Brassicaceae, native to Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean region. The genus comprises annual and perennial herbaceous plants or (rarely) small shrubs, growing to 10–100 cm tall, with oblong-oval leaves. Alyssum flowers are characteristically small and grouped in terminal clusters;[1] they are often yellow or white colored but can be pink or purple.
| Alyssum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Alyssum montanum | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Alyssum L. |
| Species | |
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See text | |
The genera Lobularia and Aurinia are closely related to Alyssum and were formerly included in it. The widely cultivated species popularly known as "sweet alyssum" is Lobularia maritima. The common rockery plant is Aurinia saxatilis.
Alyssum foliage is used as food by the caterpillars of certain Lepidoptera, including the Gem (Orthonama obstipata). However, rabbits will not eat it.[2]
Selected species
- Alyssum alpestre
- Alyssum alyssoides
- Alyssum arenarium
- Alyssum argenteum
- Alyssum artvinense
- Alyssum atlanticum
- Alyssum baeticum
- Alyssum bertolonii
- Alyssum borzaeanum
- Alyssum cadevallianum
- Alyssum caliacrae
- Alyssum calycocarpum
- Alyssum campostre
- Alyssum canescens
- Alyssum corsicum
- Alyssum corymbosoides
- Alyssum cuneifolium
- Alyssum dagestanicum
- Alyssum dasycarpum
- Alyssum densistellatum
- Alyssum desertorum
- Alyssum diffusum
- Alyssum doerfleri
- Alyssum euboeum
- Alyssum fallacinum
- Alyssum fastigiatum
- Alyssum fedtschenkoanum
- Alyssum fischeranum
- Alyssum foliosum
- Alyssum fragillimum
- Alyssum fulvescens
- Alyssum granatense
- Alyssum gustavssonii
- Alyssum handelii
- Alyssum heldreichii
- Alyssum heterotrichum
- Alyssum hirsutum
- Alyssum homalocarpum
- Alyssum idaeum
- Alyssum lanceolatum
- Alyssum lapeyrousianum
- Alyssum lassiticum
- Alyssum lenense
- Alyssum ligusticum
- Alyssum linifolium
- Alyssum longicaule
- Alyssum longistylum
- Alyssum macrocarpum
- Alyssum marginatum
- Alyssum markgrafii
- Alyssum minus
- Alyssum minutum
- Alyssum moellendorfianum
- Alyssum montanum
- Alyssum murale
- Alyssum nebrodense
- Alyssum nevadense
- Alyssum obovatum
- Alyssum obtusifolium
- Alyssum ovirense
- Alyssum pulvinare
- Alyssum purpureum
- Alyssum pyrenaicum
- Alyssum repens
- Alyssum reverchonii
- Alyssum robertianum
- Alyssum rostratum
- Alyssum scardicum
- Alyssum serpyllifolium
- Alyssum sibiricum
- Alyssum siculum
- Alyssum simplex
- Alyssum smolikanum
- Alyssum smyrnaeum
- Alyssum sphacioticum
- Alyssum spinosum
- Alyssum stapfii
- Alyssum stribrnyi
- Alyssum szowitsianum
- Alyssum tavolarae
- Alyssum taygeteum
- Alyssum tenium
- Alyssum tenuifolium
- Alyssum tortuosum
- Alyssum troodi
- Alyssum turkestanicum
- Alyssum umbellatum
- Alyssum wierzbickii
- Alyssum wulfenianum
Formerly included
- Alyssum maritimum, now Lobularia maritima
- Alyssum saxatile, now Aurinia saxatilis