Gypsophila

a genus of plants of the family Caryophyl-laceae. They are perennial or annual, often branched herbs (rarely small semishrubs) with small flowers. There are about 120 species in the temperate zone of the Old World and in Australia (one species). In the USSR there are about 70 species, growing mainly in the Caucasus and in Middle Asia. A widespread species, G. paniculata, forms spherical shrubs (tum-bleweed). The roots of this and several other species, contain up to 20 percent of saponins and are known as white soap root. They are used for washing wool and silk. The species G. elegans and G. paniculata are cultivated as ornamentals. The species G. areti-oides, growing in southern Transcaucasia, Turkmenia, and Iran, forms firm cushions up to 2 m in diameter and weighing up to 150 kg.