Gypsophila elegans
annual baby's-breath, baby's breath, gypsophile élégante, showy baby's-breath
erect, simple or few-branched proximal to inflorescence, 0.4–6 dm, glabrous.
cauline, proximal leaves with clasping bases, gradually transitional to distal leaves with ± rounded bases;
blade linear-lanceolate to narrowly oblong, 1.5–7 cm × (1–)3–16 mm, apex obtuse to acute in proximal leaves, acute in distal leaves, glaucous.
10–35 mm, glabrous.
calyx 2.5–5 mm, lobes glabrous, apex obtuse or mucronate;
petals white, occasionally with pinkish purple veins, or rarely pink, 6–15 mm.
globose.
coats coarsely tuberculate.
= 34 (Europe).
Gypsophila elegans
Gypsophila elegans is frequently included in mixtures of “wildflower” seeds used for roadside planting and other revegetation projects. A specimen specifically from such a mixture was seen from Louisiana, but such mixtures are used widely elsewhere and are believed to account for the presence of this species in Colorado and in at least one Utah locality. A report of this species from Labrador appears to have been based on garden plants.
If Gypsophila elegans is divided into two varieties, following Y. I. Barkoudah (1962), plants in the flora area are var. elegans. Cultivars are much used by florists and are frequently grown as garden ornamentals. These may have supernumerary petals, petals to 25 mm, and/or pink to maroon petals.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
- Local floras:
BC, 
CA, 
OR - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
Flora NW, 
Go Botany, 
IL Wildflowers, 
KS Wildflowers, 
MI Flora, 
MN Wildflowers, 
PNW Herbaria 
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist (observations)
USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
- SEINet
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- Encyclopedia of Life
- Wikipedia
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