eyebright

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• eyebright
• Rostkov's Eyebright

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Euphrasia officinalis, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Lamiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Orobanchaceae and the genus Euphrasia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Euphrasia officinalis, exhibits a specific range of occurrence across the northern regions of the continent. It can be found growing in the natural landscapes of Denmark within Northern Europe. The species also extends its reach to the territories of Finland and Sweden. Furthermore, its distribution includes the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Collectively, these locations define its geographical presence throughout Northern Europe.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Euphrasia officinalis is characterized by its preference for disturbed and open environments, allowing it to thrive in a variety of transitional landscapes. It is commonly found inhabiting crop fields, meadows, and old fields, where it benefits from sufficient light availability and periodic soil disturbance. Additionally, the species colonizes forest edges, cut-over forests, and shrubberies, occupying ecological niches where the canopy is broken and sunlight can penetrate to the ground layer. This distribution pattern suggests an adaptability to successional habitats and edge effects within temperate ecosystems.

Habitat :

crop fields, cut-over forest, forest edges, meadows, old fields, shrubberies

Life history

The life history of Euphrasia officinalis is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, completing its entire developmental cycle within a single growing season. As a therophyte, the species survives unfavorable environmental conditions through the production of seeds, which remain dormant until the following growing period begins. This life form strategy allows the plant to occupy ephemeral niches and quickly exploit seasonal resources, relying on its seed bank to ensure persistence in its habitat.

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Euphrasia officinalis is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb. This plant typically adopts a terrestrial habitat and functions as an obligatory parasite. In terms of stature, it is a relatively small specimen, with plant heights ranging from a minimum of 0.02 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, maintaining an average height of approximately 0.221 m. The plant's architecture is described as self-supporting rather than being a liana or vine, exhibiting an ascending shoot orientation. Although it can be classified under various ecological niches, its primary morphological profile is that of a terrestrial, non-climbing herb.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

holoepiphyte

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

obligatory

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.221 m

Plant height min:

0.02 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Euphrasia officinalis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in its native habitats. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on standard autotrophic methods and specialized symbiotic relationships rather than the capture of prey. Morphologically, its leaves are relatively small, with a mean leaf size of approximately 0.4 cm², contributing to its structural compact nature. Furthermore, the plant possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 172.93 cm²/g, a physiological trait that reflects the relationship between its leaf density and its capacity for light interception and gas exchange.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

0.4 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

172.93 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Euphrasia officinalis is characterized by a complex biological process involving specific seasonal timings and specialized mechanisms for pollination and dispersal. The flowering period begins in May and extends through October, providing a significant window for reproductive activity. This plant relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. The reproductive cycle is strictly sexual, as both self-fertilization and asexual reproduction are absent, ensuring genetic diversity through cross-pollination. Once fertilization is successful, the plant develops a capsule as its fruit type. This fruit is dehiscent, meaning it opens at maturity to release its seeds. The seeds are notably minute, with a mean mass of approximately 0.000188666666666667 g, ranging from a minimum of 0.00013 g to a maximum of 0.00031 g. Following release, the seeds are dispersed via an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing wind as the primary medium for movement to new locations.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Oct

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.00031 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000188666666666667 g

Seed mass min:

0.00013 g

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Euphrasia officinalis has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. International journal of nanomedicine

Chemicals

Euphrasia officinalis has 55 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ALUMINUM, Ash, Aucubin, BETA-SITOSTEROL, CALCIUM.

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

Aucubin

1. Dr. Duke

BETA-SITOSTEROL

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

CERYL ALCOHOL

1. Dr. Duke

CHROMIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COBALT

1. Dr. Duke

Catalpol

1. Dr. Duke

Chrysoeriol

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Euphrasia officinalis has 568 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Neuroprotective, 11B-HSD-Inhibitor, 5-HT-Inhibitor, 5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

Neuroprotective

1. Dr. Duke
2. International journal of molecular sciences

11B-HSD-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-HT-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

5-Lipoxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ATPase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Euphrasia officinalis has 4 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Alzheimer's disease, eye disorders, memory loss, neurodegenerative diseases.

Alzheimer's disease

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Eye disorders

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Memory loss

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Neurodegenerative diseases

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Preparations

Euphrasia officinalis has 4 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include butanolic extract, ethanol and acetone extracts, ethyl acetate extract, leaf extract.

Butanolic extract

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Ethanol and acetone extracts

1. Current microbiology

Ethyl acetate extract

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Leaf extract

1. International journal of nanomedicine