172 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



with opposite brandies, except in small specimens. Leaves ^ to J inch 

 Ions:, sessile or subsessile, with 3 to 6 teeth on each side. Flowers 

 in terminal spikes, at first very dense, afterwards more lax. Bracts 

 like the leaves, but usually with sharper divisions. Calyx about 

 as long as the bracts (in var. a usually a little shorter, with 

 triangular teeth ; in var. 3 a little longer than the bracts, with 

 narrowly triangular aristate teeth). Corolla very variable in size, 

 •J to -g^ inch long, white or pale-lilac, with dark-purple stripes 

 within, and a yellow spot at the base of the middle lobe of the 

 lower lip. Capsule a little shorter than the calyx, i to J- inch 

 long. Seeds very numerous, minute, fusiform, striated. Plant 

 deep-green, pubescent or sub-glabrous, the pubescence sometimes 

 glandular, sometimes not. 



A very variable plant, which many of the continental authors 

 divide into numerous species ; but it is only by taking single cha- 

 racters that it is possible to separate these. Grenier and Godron 

 divide it by the hairs on the calyx being glandular or non- 

 glandular ; but each of these characters runs through a whole series 

 of forms parallel to each other, and the two series are not separated 

 by any conspicuous difference in habit. I have therefore followed 

 Fries' s subdivision ; for although his species graduate insensibly 

 into one another, there is a marked difference in the habit of the 

 two forms. 



Common Eyehright. 



French, Eufraise Officinale. German, Gebrduchlicker Augentrost. 



There is a legend that the linnet uses this plant to clear its sight, and it has 

 long been in vogue for diseases of the eye. It is the euphrasy of Spenser, Milton, and 

 others of our old poets, and was believed at their time to have wonderful efficacy in 

 the cure of weak eyes and dimness of vision. Thus we find Milton describing the 

 Archangel as helping Adam to see more clearly : — 



" Then purged with euphrasie and rue 

 His visual orbs, for he had much to see." 



Spenser, too, told how the euphrasie could 



" Give dim eyes to wander leagues around." 



And Cowley has much to say of the wondrous uses of this little wild flower, and thus 

 addresses it : — 



" To my eyes reveal 



Thyself, and gratefully thy poet heal. 



If I of plants have anything deserved, 



Or in my verse their honour be preserved. 



Thus lying on the grass, and sad, pray'd I." 



He then represents the plant as declaring its own virtues : — 



" Then I am useful. If you would engage 

 To count my conquests, or the wars I wage, 



