Gypsophila fastigiata, L.

7. G. fastigiata L. View in CoL , Sp. Pl. 407 (1753) View Cited Treatment .

Rhizome woody; stems 5-100 cm, erect, often branched, glabrous below, glandularpubescent above and in the inflorescence; internodes longer than leaves. Leaves 20-80 x 1-4 mm, linear, obtuse or abruptly acute, 1-veined. Flowers many, in a rather dense inflorescence; pedicels usually shorter than calyx, usually glabrous. Calyx 2-3 mm, glabrous; teeth ovate, obtuse, not apiculate. Petals c. 1 | times as long as calyx, obovate, rounded at apex, white or pale purplish. Seeds with long, acute, conical tubercles. In = 34. • Mainly in E.C. Europe, but extending locally to W. Germany, Sweden, arctic Russia, C. Ukraine and W. Jugoslavia. Au Cz Fe Ge Hu Ju Po Rm Rs (N, B, C, W) Su.

Towards the south-east plants become larger, and have laxer, densely pubescent inflorescences with pubescent pedicels and rather larger flowers (G. arenaria Waldst. & Kit. ex Willd. ), but these differences are mostly phenotypic, and the difference in size is the only character that remains constant in cultivation.