EUPHRASIA OFFICINALIS. Q7T7 
In Shenstone, also, we have the virtues of this plant de- 
scribed : 
“‘ Yet Euphrasy may not be left unsung, 
That gives dim eyes to wander leagues around.” 
Description.—Euphrasia officinalis is an annual plant. 
Flowers from June to September. The root is fibrous and 
whitish. The stem from one to six inches high, upright, square, 
leafy, downy, either simple or branched. Leaves sessile, almost 
entirely opposite; small, egg-shaped, downy ; slightly ribbed 
and furrowed; serrated or indented teeth, pointed. Flowers 
axillary, solitary, very abundant, inodorous, forming a leafy 
spike or raceme at the tops of the branches and stems. Calyx 
angular, hairy, four-toothed, teeth nearly equal, spear-shaped, 
pointed. The corolla varies much in size, as well as colour, 
being commonly white, with deep purple streaks, and a yellow- 
ish palate. Anthers violet or brown, armed with two spines at 
the base. Germen a little hairy at the top. Style pubescent 
on the upper part. Stigma fringed with very minute glands 
round the edge. Capsule four-cornered at the bottom, com- 
pressed above, slightly notched at the end, a little hairy towards 
the top, and marked with black dots. Seeds few, somewhat 
angular; thin at the edges, strongly striated or furrowed at the 
sides. 
“ No gem can equal this brilliant and lasting ornament of the 
turf. When summer, with her gay companions, has divested 
the woods and fields; when the completion of the harvest has 
robbed the landscape of its richer features, the grassy downs 
are still glowing with the tufted Euphrasia, which, scattered 
around, yet reminds us, by its beautifully varied white, of snow, 
a chill though beneficial attendant of approaching winter. Its 
whiteness is tastefully varied with purple and pale yellow; as a 
hint which, though unwelcome, is kindly and delicately con- 
veyed.” | 
Grocrapuicat Disrripurton.—Over all Europe. North 
America, etc. 
AA 
