Euphrasia
2238642
224901303
2008-07-10T22:30:49Z
Dysmorodrepanis
303688
copyedit
:''For the [[Canada|Canadian]] [[township]], see [[Euphrasia Township, Ontario]]. For the band, see [[Euphrasia (band)]]. For the saint, see [[Euphrasia (Eupraxia) of Constantinople]]. See also [[Eufrasia of the Sacred Heart of Jesus]]''
{{Taxobox
| name = ''Euphrasia''
| image = Augentrost.jpg
| image_width = 220px
| image_caption = ''[[Euphrasia rostkoviana]]''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| subclassis = [[Asteridae]]
| unranked_ordo = [[Euasterids I]]
| ordo = [[Lamiales]]
| familia = [[Orobanchaceae]]
| genus = '''''Euphrasia'''''
| genus_authority = L.
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision =
About 450, see [[#Selected species|text]]
}}
'''''Euphrasia''''' ('''Eyebright''') is a [[genus]] of about 450 [[species]] of [[Herbaceous plant|herbaceous]] [[flowering plant]]s in the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Orobanchaceae]] (formerly included in the [[Scrophulariaceae]]), with a [[cosmopolitan distribution]]. They are [[parasite|semi-parasitic]] on [[Poaceae|grasses]]. The common name refers to the plant's use in treating eye [[infection]]s.
Many species are found in [[alpine meadow|alpine]] or sub-alpine meadows where snow is common. Flowers usually are borne terminally, are [[zygomorphic]], and have a lower petal shaped like a lip. The most common flower colours are purple, blue-white, and violet. Some species have yellow markings on the lower petal to act as a guide to pollinating insects.
Alternative names, mainly in [[herbalism]], are ''Augentrostkraut, Euphrasiae herba, Herba Euphrasiae'' and ''Herbe d'Euphraise''.
==Use in herbalism and medicine==
The plant was known to classical [[herbalist]]s, but then was not referred to until mentioned again in [[1305]]. [[Nicholas Culpeper]] assigned it to the [[leo (astrology)|Leo]], claiming that it strengthened the brain. It was also used to treat bad [[memory]] and [[vertigo (medical)|vertigo]].<ref>Howard (1987): p.136</ref>
Herbalists use eyebright as a [[poultice]] with or without concurrent administration of a tea for the redness, swelling, and visual disturbances caused by [[blepharitis]] and [[conjunctivitis]]. The herb is also used for [[eyestrain]] and to relieve inflammation caused by [[colds]], [[cough]]s, [[sinus infection]]s, [[sore throat]]s and [[hay fever]].
Parts used include the leaf, the stem, and small pieces of the flowers. Typical preparations include a warm compress or tea. Eyebright preparations are also available as an extract or capsule.
The safety of this herb during [[pregnancy]] and [[lactation]] is not proven.
==Selected species==
[[Image:Euphrasia alpina Alpen-Augentrost.JPG|thumb|right|''[[Euphrasia alpina]]'']]
[[Image:Euphrasia minima.jpg|thumb|right|''[[Euphrasia minima]]'']]
<div float="left">
{{col-begin|width=70%}}
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* ''[[Euphrasia × aequalis]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia alpina]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia alsa]]'' <small>F.Muell.</small>
* ''[[Euphrasia anglica]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia arctica]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia arguta]]'' - believed [[extinct]], rediscovered 2008
* ''[[Euphrasia brevipila]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia cambrica]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia campbelliae]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia collina]]'' <small>R.Br.</small> – [[Purple Eyebright]]
** ''Euphrasia collina'' ssp. ''muelleri'' – [[Mueller's Eyebright]]
** ''Euphrasia collina'' ssp. ''osbornii'' – [[Osborn's Eyebright]]
* ''[[Euphrasia confusa]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia fabula]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia fennica]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia foulaensis]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia fragosa]]'' – [[Shy Eyebright]], [[Southport Eyebright]]
* ''[[Euphrasia frigida]]'' – [[Cold-weather Eyebright]]
* ''[[Euphrasia gibbsiae]]''
** ''Euphrasia gibbsiae'' ssp. ''psilantherea''
* ''[[Euphrasia glabrescens]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia heslop-harrisonii]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia hirtella]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia hudsoniana]]'' – [[Hudson's Eyebright]]
* ''[[Euphrasia marshallii]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia micrantha]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia minima]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia nemorosa]]'' – [[Common Eyebright]]
{{col-2-of-2}}
* ''[[Euphrasia oakesii]]'' – [[Oakes' Eyebright]]
* ''[[Euphrasia officinalis]]'' – [[Red Eyebright]], "[[figwort]]"
* ''[[Euphrasia ostenfeldii]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia parviflora]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia pseudokerneri]]'' – [[Chalk Eyebright]]
* ''[[Euphrasia randii]]'' – [[Small Eyebright]]
* ''[[Euphrasia rivularis]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia rostkoviana]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia rotundifolia]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia ruptura]]'' - [[extinct]]
* ''[[Euphrasia salisburgensis]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia scabra]]'' <small>R.Br.</small> – [[Rough Eyebright]]
* ''[[Euphrasia scottica]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia semipicta]]'' – [[Peninsula Eyebright]]
* ''[[Euphrasia striata]]'' <small>R.Br.</small>
* ''[[Euphrasia stricta]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia subarctica]]'' – [[Arctic Eyebright]]
* ''[[Euphrasia suborbicularis]]'' – [[Roundleaf Eyebright]]
* ''[[Euphrasia tatrae]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia tetraquetra]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia vernalis]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia × vestita]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia vigursii]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia × villosa]]''
* ''[[Euphrasia vinacea]]'' – [[Glacier Eyebright]]
* ''[[Euphrasia zelandica]]''
* ''Euphrasia'' sp. 'Bivouac Bay'<ref>Also known as ''Euphrasia'' sp. 'fabula'; related to but not identical with ''[[Euphrasia fabula|E. fabula]]''.</ref> – [[Bivouac Bay Eyebright]]
{{col-end}}
</div>
==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}
==References==
{{commonscat}}
* {{aut|Howard, Michael}} (1987): ''Traditional Folk Remedies''. Century.
{{Lamiales-stub}}
[[Category:Orobanchaceae]]
[[bg:Очанка]]
[[da:Øjentrøst]]
[[de:Augentrost]]
[[es:Euphrasia]]
[[fr:Euphraise]]
[[hsb:Swětlik]]
[[ka:კორდისკბილა]]
[[lt:Akišveitė]]
[[nl:Ogentroost]]
[[pl:Świetlik (roślina)]]
[[pt:Euphrasia]]
[[sv:Ögontröst]]