Gypsophila L.

Herbs, annual, biennial or perennial rarely shrubby, often glandular-hairy. Leaves opposite, linear-subulate, lanceolate or obovate, usually flat, often subfleshy. Flowers bisexual, generally numerous, small, arranged in lax dichasial leafy cymes, panicles or heads, rarely solitary; bracts green, scarious; bracteoles absent. Receptacle not elongated. Calyx campanulate, rarely tubular, 5-toothed, with scarious seams between main nerves. Petals 5, narrowly clawed at base; limb entire or notched, without coronal scales, white to pink, often with purple streaks. Stamens 10. Ovary ellipsoid, 1-locular, many-ovuled; styles 2, rarely 3, filiform. Capsules globose to oblong, opening by 4 (-6) teeth; seeds compressed with a prominent radicle and flat or echinate tubercles, rarely smooth.

Cheifly in Europe and West Asia; ca 80 species, 2 species in India.

Literature. WILLIAMS, F. N. (1889) A revision of the genus Gypsophila. J. Bot. 27: 321 - 329. STROH, G.(1937). Die Gattung Gypsophila. Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 59: 455 - 477. BARKOUDAH, Y. I. (1962). A revision of Gypsophila, Bolanthus, Ankyropetalum and phryna. Wentia 9: 1 - 203.

KEY TO THE SPECIES

1a. Leaves obovate-spathulate; calyx 5 - 7 mm long; seeds subreniform

1. Gypsophila cerastioides

b. Leaves linear; calyx ca 2 mm long; seeds cochleate

2. Gypsophila sedifolia

List of Lower Taxa