Gypsophila elegans
Gypsophila muralis
annual baby's-breath, baby's breath, gypsophile élégante, showy baby's-breath
cushion baby's-breath, gypsophile de murs, low baby's-breath
erect, simple or few-branched proximal to inflorescence, 0.4–6 dm, glabrous.
erect, diffusely much-branched throughout, 0.4–3(–4) dm, proximally puberulent, distally glabrous, or occasionally glabrous throughout.
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.
cauline, bases not clasping;
blade linear, (0.2–)0.3–3.2 cm × 0.2–2(–3) mm, not glaucous, apex acute to acuminate.
10–35 mm, glabrous.
2–20 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.
calyx 2–4 mm, lobes glabrous, apex rounded to obtuse;
petals pink or rarely white, 3.5–6(–10) mm.
globose.
ellipsoid-ovoid.
coats coarsely tuberculate.
coats minutely tuberculate.
= 34 (Europe).
= 30, 34 (both Europe).
Gypsophila elegans
Gypsophila muralis
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.)
Gypsophila muralis is well established in noncalcareous soils in the eastern part of its North American range. Populations in the Great Lakes region and westward are less likely to be long-persistent, e.g., Minnesota, where collections are known from 1910–1911. Its recent spread in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, has been associated with sites flooded in winter for skating rinks and with sites where snow and ice have been piled in winter (J. R. Rohrer 1998). This species has been confused with Petrorhagia saxifraga (Linnaeus) Link, but can readily be distinguished by its annual habit, lack of epicalyces, and snail-shell-shaped rather than pear-shaped seeds (R. K. Rabeler 1981). Spergularia rubra (Linnaeus) J. Presl & C. Presl is also similar in aspect; it differs in having distinct, narrowly triangular stipules and distinct sepals.
In recent years, cultivars of Gypsophila muralis have been selected for density of branching, flower size, supernumerary petals, and depth of and other variations in petal color.
(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
- Plants of the World Online
- Encyclopedia of Life
- Wikipedia
- Google Image Search
