description
Euphrasia officinales is an annual flowering plant of the Orobanchaceae
family. It can grow from 2 to 8 inches high and flowers from July to September.
On the mountains and
near the sea, or in poor soil, it is often a tiny plant, only an inch or so
high, with the stem scarcely branched, but in rich soil it assumes the habit of
a minute shrub and forms a spreading tuft, 8 or 9 inches high. The stem is erect
and wiry, either unbranched in small specimens, or with many opposite branches.
The leaves are 1/6 to 1/2 inch long and about 1/4 inch broad, opposite to one
another on the lower portion of the stem, alternate above, more often
lance-shaped, though sometimes, as already stated, much broader, and with four
to five teeth on each side. The flowers, white, or lilac and purple-veined, are
in terminal spikes, with leafy bracts interspersed. The corolla is two-lipped,
its lower, tube-like portion being enclosed in a green calyx, tipped with four
teeth. The upper lip is two-lobed; the lower lip is spreading and three-lobed,
each lobe being notched. A yellow patch emphasizes the central lobe and purple
'honey guides' on both upper and lower lips. Four stamens, with brown, downy
anthers lie under the upper lip, in pairs, one behind the other; on the
underside of each anther is a stiff spur, the two lowest spurs longer than the
others and projecting over the throat of the flower. The seeds in all kinds of
the flowers are produced in tiny, flattened capsules, and are numerous and
ribbed.
common names & nomenclature
The name Euphrasia is of Greek origin, derived from Euphrosyne (gladness),
the name of one of the three graces who was distinguished for her joy and
mirth.
Also known as:
eyebright, eyewort, euphrasia rostkoviana
