Gypsophila paniculata (Baby's-Breath) - photos and description
Origin: Introduced.
General: Much branched perennial, the inflorescence often giving the plant a dome
shape. Foliage is glaucous and plants are glabrous except for small hairs on the calyx.
This plant has been designated as a noxious weed in Saskatchewan.
Flowers: White, bell-shaped, with five-lobes and 5 sepals, we measured flowers at 4 mm diameter, the sepals 2 mm long, and the petals 2 mm long. Flowers numerous in terminal panicles. Minute hairs on the calyx. July -August.
Leaves: Opposite, entire, linear-lanceolate, the leaf highlighted in the photo above was 40 mm long by 5 mm wide.
Height: Listed in Flora of Alberta to 120 cm, we measured plants to 83 cm tall.
Habitat: Roadsides and waste ground, particularly on lighter soils in southwest Saskatchewan.
Abundance: Common.
When and where photographed: We took the above photos July 18th and July 20th, sandy highway ditch near Maple Creek, SK, about 400 km southwest of our home in Regina, SK.