FloraFinder.org
Home   About Us   FAQ  
Searching   Image Use Plant Books
x
FloraFinder uses cookies only for correct operation. More info. Okay

Euphrasia nemorosa (Pers.) Wallr.

Common eyebright

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassMagnoliopsidaDicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
SubclassAsteridaeA large class that encompasses asters
OrderLamialesAromatic herbs and shrubs, including lavender, lilac, olive, jasmine, ash, teak, snapdragon, sesame, psyllium, garden sage, mint, basil, and rosemary
FamilyOrobanchaceaeBroomrape family of parasitic plants
GenusEuphrasiaMedieval Latin eufrasia, from Greek euphrasía, “cheerfulness, gladness”
SpeciesnemorosaGrowing in groves or woods

About plant names...

Common eyebright is a North American native. It appears in anthropogenic (i.e. human-disturbed) habitats. It is hemiparasitic: it derives part of its energy by siphoning it from other plants, in this case the roots of some grasses. The rest comes from photosynthesis as with most plants. The name “eyebright” reflects its use at one time to treat eye diseases and improve vision.

Plants: 4-15″ (10-38 cm) in height, heavily branched. Usually it is less than 6″ (15 cm) high, and easy to miss.

Leaves: ⅛-½″ (5-15 mm) long, sessile, with 7-11 coarse teeth.

Flowers: Flowers are ¼-½″ (8-13 mm) long, generally tubular, and have bilateral symmetry. Flowers are white or pale lavendar. They are easily overlooked due to their small size, but close examination reveals purple lines and a yellow spot in the throat, three notched lower lips, and an upper lip with two lobes.

Fruits: Seeds are 1/32-1/16″ (1-2 mm) long, and narrowly winged.

Online References:

Web.ewu.edu (Excellent photos)

Fall Wildflowers of New England

The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Accs.uaa.alaska.edu

Euphrasia nemorosa (common eyebright)

9/15/2016 · Cadillac Mountain Summit, Acadia, Bar Harbor, Maine

Euphrasia nemorosa (common eyebright)

8/22/2023 · Schiller Coastal Studies Center, Orr’s Island, Maine · ≈ 2½ × 4″ (7.1 × 10 cm)

Euphrasia nemorosa (common eyebright)

9/11/2017 · Mt. Watatic, access road, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (11 × 16 cm)

Euphrasia nemorosa (common eyebright)

9/11/2017 · Mt. Watatic, access road, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Euphrasia nemorosa (common eyebright)

9/15/2016 · Cadillac Mountain Summit, Acadia, Bar Harbor, Maine

Euphrasia americana auct. p.p.

Euphrasia arctica Lange ex Rostr. ssp. borealis (Townsend) Yeo

Euphrasia borealis (Townsend) Wettst.

Euphrasia canadensis auct. non Townsend

Euphrasia curta (Fr.) Wettst.

Euphrasia pectinata auct. non Ten.

Euphrasia tatarica auct. non Fisch. ex Spreng.

 

Euphrasia nemorosa description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 28 Sep 2023.

© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.


 

Euphrasia nemorosa (common eyebright)

8/8/2021 · Eaton Farm Preserve, Wiscasset, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)

Euphrasia nemorosa (common eyebright)

9/14/2023 · Nature Conservancy Access Trail, Sprague Pond, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)

Euphrasia nemorosa (common eyebright)

8/22/2023 · Schiller Coastal Studies Center, Orr’s Island, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm)

Euphrasia nemorosa (common eyebright)

9/17/2016 · Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor, Maine

Euphrasia nemorosa (common eyebright)

8/22/2023 · Schiller Coastal Studies Center, Orr’s Island, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 5″ (9.2 × 13 cm)

Euphrasia nemorosa (common eyebright)

9/11/2017 · Mt. Watatic, access road, Ashby, Mass­a­chu­setts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 14 cm)

Euphrasia nemorosa (common eyebright)

8/22/2023 · Schiller Coastal Studies Center, Orr’s Island, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (11 × 16 cm)

Range:

About this map...