Gypsophila | |
---|---|
Gypsophila repens | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Caryophyllales |
Family: | Caryophyllaceae |
Genus: | Gypsophila L. |
Species | |
About 150 | |
Synonyms[1] | |
List
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Gypsophila (/dʒɪpˈsɒfɪlə/)[2][3] is a genus of flowering plants in the carnation family, Caryophyllaceae. They are native to Eurasia, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific Islands.[4] Turkey has a particularly high diversity of Gypsophila taxa, with about 35 endemic species.[5] Some[6] Gypsophila are introduced species in other regions.[4]
The genus name is from the Greek gypsos ("gypsum") and philios ("loving"), a reference to the gypsum-rich substrates on which some species grow.[4] Plants of the genus are known commonly as baby's-breath, or bebe's breath,[4][7] a name which also refers specifically to the well known ornamental species Gypsophila paniculata.