GYPSOPHILA (from gypsos, lime, and philein, or love; in reference to the species preferring a limestone to a chalky soil). ORD. Caryophylleae. A genus containing about fifty species of hardy annual or perennial herbs, inhabiting various parts of Europe and Asia. Flowers white or pink, small, usually disposed in diffuse panicles. Leaves flat or rarely acerose. Some of the species form excellent subjects for growing as border plants or on rockeries. They thrive in a dryish soil, especially if intermixed with calcareous matter or old lime or brick rubbish. Propagated by seeds, by cuttings, or by division. The species described below are perennials. GYPSOPHILA cerastioides (Cerastium-like).* fl. white, red-veined, corymbose; petals emarginate. May. l. pilose on both surfaces; margins ciliated; radical ones spathulate, on long footstalks, mucronulate; cauline ones obovate. Stems erect, four-sided. h. 3 1/2ft. Himalaya. (B. M. 6699.) GYPSOPHILA fastigiata (fastigiate). fl. pale red, corymbosely fastigiate; petals very rarely emarginated. July. l. linear, rather fleshy, glabrous, flat. h. 1ft. Europe, 1801. (F. d. S. 135.) GYPSOPHILA glauca (glaucous). fl. white, panicled; panicle divaricating. July. l. linear-lanceolate, somewhat fleshy, obtuse. Branches few-flowered, pubescent, clammy. h. 1 1/2ft. Caucasus, 1822. GYPSOPHILA paniculata (panicled).* fl. whitish, small, very numerous, panicled; peduncles smooth, filiform, divaricating. June to August. l. few, linear-lanceolate, scabrous, acute. h. 2ft. to 3ft. Europe, 1759. A very elegant, light, and graceful perennial. (J. F. A. v. l.) GYPSOPHILA perfoliata (perfoliate). fl. pink, panicled; panicles dichotomous, clammy. July. l. lanceolate, half stem-clasping, acute, smooth. h. 1 1/2ft. to 3ft. South-western Europe, 1817. GYPSOPHILA prostrata (prostrate). A synonym of GYPSOPHILA repens. GYPSOPHILA repens (creeping). fl. white or pale rose-coloured. July to September. l. linear, glabrous. Stems somewhat panicled, few-flowered. h. 6in. Alps of Europe, 1774. SYN. GYPSOPHILA prostrata. GYPSOPHILA Stevenii (Steven's).* fl. white, panicled; petals broad-linear, obtuse, entire. July. l. linear-lanceolate, keeled, grey. Stem diffuse. h. 1ft. to 2ft. Caucasus, 1818.