Irish eyebright (Euphrasia salisburgensis, Bot. Taschenb.: 190 (1794))

Family: Orobanchaceae

Author: Funck ex Hoppe

Bibliography: Bot. Taschenb.: 190 (1794)

Year: 1794

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Euphrasia

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to NW. Türkiye

Description

Irish eyebright, formally known as Euphrasia salisburgensis, is a captivating plant species noted for its distinct presence across various regions from Europe to northwest Türkiye. This plant is a member of the Orobanchaceae family, a botanical group recognized for its unique adaptation mechanisms and parasitic characteristics.

Euphrasia salisburgensis was first documented in 1794 in the “Botanisches Taschenbuch” by the botanist Funck, with further elaboration by Hoppe. The detailed work of these early botanists laid foundational knowledge for the identification and classification of this intriguing species.

Irish eyebright is a perennial herb that typically thrives in grasslands and meadows, where it can occasionally be found in abundance. Its defining features include small, delicate flowers that exhibit enchanting hues, often white with hints of purple or blue, making it an eye-catching addition to the flora of its native locales.

This plant possesses semi-parasitic traits. It attaches itself to the roots of neighboring grasses and other plant species, extracting essential nutrients to support its growth. This unique characteristic not only highlights its adaptability but also its role in the ecosystem, where it may influence the composition of plant communities in the habitats where it occurs.

Euphrasia salisburgensis has been a subject of interest not only for its botanical attributes but also for its potential medicinal properties. Historical uses of various Euphrasia species have included treatments for eye-related ailments, contributing to the common name “eyebright,” although such uses should be approached with caution and scientific scrutiny.

In summary, the Irish eyebright (Euphrasia salisburgensis) is a noteworthy species with a rich botanical history and significant ecological roles. Its presence from Europe to northwest Türkiye speaks to its adaptability and ecological success within its native range. The foundational works of botanists like Funck and Hoppe continue to inform and inspire current botanical studies and conservation efforts for this and related species within the Orobanchaceae family.

Common Names

Deu: salzburger augentrost
Nno: lappaugnetrøst
Nob: lappøyentrøst
Swe: otasilmäruoho, spjutögontröst
Fin: otasilmäruoho
Eng: irish eyebright, salzburg eyebright
Fra: euphraise de salzbourg
Cym: effros culddail, effros iwerddon
En: Irish Eyebright
Ar: عرقون سالسبورغي
Bg: Салисбургска очанка
Cs: Světlík solnohradský
Fi: Otasilmäruoho
De: Salzburger Augentrost
It: Euforbia di Salisburgo
Se: Deaggačalmmon
Nn: Lappaugnetrøyst, Lappaugnetrøst
Sv: Lappögontröst, Spjutögontröst
Cy: Effros Iwerddon
: Irish eyebright

Synonyms

• Euphrasia salisburgensis var. bergadensis (Sennen)
• Euphrasia officinalis var. salisburgensis ((Funck ex Hoppe) Schleich.)
• Euphrasia minima var. lapeyrousii (Soy.-Will.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Austria (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kriti (native)
• Newfoundland (native)
• Norway (native)
• Poland (native)
• Romania (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Aug 7, 2022 by M Ch (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Sep 6, 2020 by Asier Gallo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 22, 2021 by Geko Iosky (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 22, 2021 by Geko Iosky (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 27, 2019 by Joachim Rippelbeck (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Jul 23, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 23, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Feb 21, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 21, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Nov 2, 2021 by sylvie toupin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 7, 2022 by M Ch (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 7, 2022 by M Ch (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 6, 2020 by Asier Gallo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 22, 2021 by Geko Iosky (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3171959)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:802837-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Euphrasia salisburgensis Funck ex Hoppe)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/7591079)

Specifications

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.0

Ph minimum: 7.5

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Bloom months: [‘jul’, ‘aug’, ‘sep’, ‘oct’]

Soil nutriments: 4