Babysbreath
Gypsophila paniculata

Scientific/Common Name:  Babysbreath, (Gypsophila paniculata), Old-fashioned Baby's Breath, Tall Baby's-breath (8)

Roots:  Has a woody root system.  The roots can grow to 13 feet deep. (2) (1)

Leaves: Linear, opposite leaves, grows to 3/4 to 4 in. long. (2) (1)

Flowers/ fruits:  Shell-pink, white, purple-blushed single flowers.  The flowers are light single or doubled dried flowers.  The width is 1/16 to 1/8in.  The fruit is a small capsule that holds 2 to 5 seeds. (3) (2)

Stems: Stems grow to 1m.  The hairless stems grow from the base. (2)

Reproduction:  Cross pollination and germination.  The flowers are pollinated by insects.  The flowers have female and male organs.  Reproduces by seeds. (8) (5)

Where Its Found
It is found in open fields where it is lightly grazed, roadside ditches, hay fields, and abandond fields. (3) (2)  Butte, Montana has quite a bit of the plant growing in waste areas through out town.  Much of it is harvested each fall for flower arraingements.  (Mr. Breitenfeldt, 2006)

Methods of Control
Biological:  No data found.

Chemical:  The plants can be reduced by mowing , clipping or heavy grazing.  (6)

Mechanical:  Heavy grazing lowers the growth of mature plants and prevents seedlings. (6)


Links:
1) http://www.humeseeds.com/babysp.htm
2) http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/wildseed/babysbreath.html
3) http://www.driedflowersdirect.com/dried-flowers/baby-breath.htm
4) http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/cropprot/weedguid/babysbreath2.htm
5) http://www.floridagardener.com/pom/Baby's%20Breath.htm
6) http://www.nwcb.wa.gov/weed%20info/Gypsophila_paniculata.html
7) http://akweeds.uaa.alaska.edu/pdfs/species_bios_pdfs/Species_bios_GYPA.pdf
8) http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Gypsophila+paniculata
9) http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Gypsophila+paniculata
10) http://www.cnr.uidaho.edu/range454/2003%20Pet%20weeds/babys_breath.html

By: Kelsey Cronan, 3/2006.    

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