common gypsophila

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• perennial baby's-breath
• tall baby's-breath
• Baby's Breath
• Baby's-breath
• baby’s-breath
• common gypsophila

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Saponaria paniculata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Caryophyllales, it is classified under the family Caryophyllaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Gypsophila.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the northern regions of Europe. In the Scandinavian peninsula, it can be found growing across Norway and Sweden. Its presence also extends to the island of Great Britain, marking a significant part of its western range. Moving further east, the species is documented within the borders of Finland. Finally, its northern European footprint is completed by its occurrence in Denmark.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Gypsophila paniculata is characterized by its presence in anthropogenic areas (Área Antrópica), where it thrives within disturbed environments shaped by human activity. This species occupies a specific altitudinal niche, typically found at elevations ranging from a minimum of 1100 m AMSL to a maximum of 1500 m AMSL. Across its distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1300 m AMSL, reflecting its adaptation to the climatic and environmental conditions found within these mid-altitude highland zones.

Elevational range max:

1500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1300 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1100 m AMSL

Habitat :

Área Antrópica

Life history

The life history of Gypsophila paniculata is characterized by its classification as a perennial species, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth strategy and ecological positioning, the plant functions as a chamaephyte, a life form where the permanent buds are located close to the soil surface, often protected by a layer of leaf litter or minimal soil cover. This chamaephyte development pattern, consistent across both its primary and secondary life form categorizations, enables the plant to withstand various environmental stresses while maintaining its perennial nature throughout its life cycle.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Gypsophila paniculata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies, growing instead as an independent organism rather than a parasite. The plant is strictly self-supporting, lacking any climbing, liana, or vine-like habits. In terms of stature, it exhibits variable height, with individual plants typically ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.65 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.65 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Gypsophila paniculata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The vegetative morphology is defined by specific leaf dimensions that support its physiological functions, with leaf lengths typically ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a mean of 3.5 cm, reaching a maximum of 5 cm. Complementing this, the leaf width exhibits a narrow profile, with a minimum width of 0.25 cm, a mean width of 0.3 cm, and a maximum width of 0.7 cm. These precise leaf dimensions and the C3 metabolic strategy work in tandem to regulate the plant's energy acquisition and transpiration rates.

Leaf length max:

5 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

0.7 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.3 cm

Leaf width min:

0.25 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Gypsophila paniculata is characterized by a specific phenological window and specialized biological mechanisms for pollination and seed dispersal. The flowering period typically begins in June and extends through July. The plant relies on biotic pollination, specifically employing an insect pollination syndrome to facilitate fertilization. Notably, self-fertilization is absent in this species, necessitating the involvement of pollinators for successful reproductive cycles. Following fertilization, the plant produces seeds with highly uniform dimensions, maintaining a mean seed length and width of 1.3 mm (with minimum and maximum values also recorded at 1.3 mm). These seeds are quite lightweight, possessing a mean mass of 0.0007085 g, with a range spanning from a minimum of 0.0005 g to a maximum of 0.00086 g. For the spread of its progeny, Gypsophila paniculata utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, meaning the seeds are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length mean:

1.3 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00086 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0007085 g

Seed mass min:

5e-04 g

Seed width mean:

1.3 mm

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Gypsophila paniculata has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include SAPONIN.

SAPONIN

1. Die Pharmazie

Preparations

Gypsophila paniculata has 2 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous solution, polyethylene glycol ointment base.

Aqueous solution

1. Die Pharmazie

Polyethylene glycol ointment base

1. Die Pharmazie