Montana Field Guide

Plants glabrous and glaucous below, glandular above. Stems to 70 cm. Leaves lanceolate, 3–8 cm long,1-veined. Flowers: calyx 3–4 mm long, glandular; petals 4–6 mm long, pinkish. Capsule smaller than the calyx (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

In the United States, there are 4 introduced Gypsophila species, all referred to as baby's-breath (Pringle in FNA 2005). Of these, two species have made their way to Montana.

Tall Baby's-breath - Gypsophila paniculata, non-native, undesirable
* Peduncle: Stalk of the inflorescence lacks hairs (glabrous).
* Flowers: Sepals glabrous. Petals are shorter, less than 4 mm tall, and usually are not tinged with pink.
* Leaves: Do not clasp the stem.

Garden Baby's-breath - Gypsophila scorzonerifolia, non-native, undesirable
* Peduncle: Stalk of the inflorescence is glandular and hairy.
* Flowers: Sepals are glandular and hairy. Petals are taller, 4-6 mm long, and often tinged with pink.
* Leaves: Clasp the stem.

Collected in calcareous gravels. (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).