Gypsophila paniculata

species of plant

Gypsophila paniculata is a species of perennial plant, a plant that lives for more than two years. The common name, a name that is in general use, is baby's breath.

Common Baby's-breath
Gypsophila paniculata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
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Species:
G. paniculata
Binomial name
Gypsophila paniculata

Description change

The height of the species 2 to 3 feet long and the width of the species is 2 to 3 feet long. The species blooms anytime from April to August. The color of the flowers are typically white. The plant needs sunlight from the full sun, meaning direct sunlight.[1] The species is an herbaceous plant, meaning it has leaves and stems that die down at the end of the growing season to the soil level and has no woody stem above the ground.[2]

Habitat change

The species is native to Central Europe and Siberia.[3]

Toxicity change

Despite being used in cakes and corsages, the species is commonly feared to be poisonous. The toxicity is said to be due to saponins. The poisonous parts of the plant are claimed to be the flowers, with other parts of the plant also being poisonous when they are dry. The species can cause eye irritation, sinus irritation, or asthma after the plant is repeatedly handled. The plant can also cause minor skin irritation that only lasts for a few minutes.[4]potentially unreliable source

It is known that the roots of this species and other members of the genus gypsophila do in fact contain saponin.[5] A study has been done which suggests that saponins are produced only in the root and stay in the root and do not move to other parts of the plant.[6]

References change

  1. "Gypsophila paniculata 'Bristol Fairy'". Kenter Center for Home Gardening. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  2. "Gypsophila paniculata--Perennial Baby's Breath". Michigan State University. Archived from the original on 2010-03-25. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  3. Cox, Jeff (1998). Perennial All Stars. Rodale Press, Inc. pp. 154. ISBN 9780875967806.
  4. "Gypsophila paniculata". Poisonous Plants of North Carolina. Archived from the original on 2010-01-02. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  5. Kołodziej, Barbara; Sęczyk, Łukasz; Sugier, Danuta; Kędzia, Bogdan; Chernetskyy, Mykhaylo; Gevrenova, Reneta; Henry, Max (2019-10-05). "Determination of the yield, saponin content and profile, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of three Gypsophila species". Industrial Crops and Products. 138: 111422. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2019.05.071. ISSN 0926-6690. S2CID 198366783.
  6. Henry, Max; Rochd, Mohamed; Bennini, Bachir (1991-01-01). "Biosynthesis and accumulation of saponins in Gypsophila paniculata". Phytochemistry. 30 (6): 1819–1821. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(91)85020-Z. ISSN 0031-9422.