Gypsophila paniculata - Sand dunes habitat (4817' N 1649' E)

Description :

2010-07-18 Lower Austria, district Gnserndorf (sand dunes of Marchfeld, 160 m AMSL).This is an ornamental plant in most of Austria but native here - in Marchfeld and Vienna are actually the westernmost natural occurrences of this one.This particular habitat also is special for Austria - they're overgrown sand dunes, this place here actually almost was desert-like some centuries ago. To prevent further desertification, trees were planted, and most of the dunes of this region now are overgrown. Some protected habitats, like this one, however have been preserved.German name: Rispen-Gipskraut (botanical name; sold as ornamental plant under the name of Schleierkraut)