Is this Eyebright???

SpiritOfOld · #1 (**permalink**) 18-09-2009, 02:04 PM

I think this is Eyebright???? Can anyone tell me if my id is correct?

Lancashire Lad · #2 (**permalink**) 18-09-2009, 02:09 PM

Certainly is.

Unfortunately though, there are 21 Euphrasia agg. species in the UK, so I doubt that you will get it down to exact species.

Regards,
Mike.

SpiritOfOld · #3 (**permalink**) 18-09-2009, 02:15 PM

Thanks for that

Andy

thunder · #4 (**permalink**) 19-09-2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Certainly is.

Unfortunately though, there are 21 Euphrasia agg. species in the UK, so I doubt that you will get it down to exact species.

Regards,
Mike.

And around 60 hybrids between those species

henrya

IanS · #5 (**permalink**) 19-09-2009, 11:23 PM

I knew there were a fair few, but not 60! No wonder you need to dedicate your life to know which is which!

PeterJL · #6 (**permalink**) 22-09-2009, 01:04 PM

The British Eyebright expert and referee posts on these boards occasionally (Alan S.)

SpiritOfOld · #7 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 06:13 PM

Its the first time i've ever noticed it

davidbr · #8 (**permalink**) 01-10-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanS

I knew there were a fair few, but not 60! No wonder you need to dedicate your life to know which is which!

Not necessarily

They're not quite as bad as, say, hawkweeds or dandelions

It's a bit like with the various lady's-mantle (Alchemilla) species; most of them are very localised and the ones which are more widespread aren't that hard, really, to identify. I've currently only got photos of 3; Maritime Eyebright (E. tetraquetra) (a south-coast speciality at Durlston), Common Eyebright (E. nemorosa) & Chalk-hill Eyebright (E. pseudokerneri), the latter being a speciality of the Mendip Hills in my local region.

The hybrids, well, that's a different matter - but I also wouldn't confidently back myself to ID any hybrids in the willowherbs, say, or water-crowfoots

IanS · #9 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 05:32 PM

hi David
I didnt know that there was a coastal one, although I have heard of that particular species. I've been to Durlston a few years ago. I will have to check my photos to see if I took any eyebrights!

davidbr · #10 (**permalink**) 02-10-2009, 05:47 PM

Durlston's the only place I've seen it, but I don't think it's restricted to there or even unusually common there. It's quite a compact plant, and the leaves are very distinctive.