COMI^ION EYEBRIGUT. —mp/irasia 

 officinalis. 



Class DiDTNAMiA. Order Angiospermia. Nat. Ord. Scrophu- 



LARINE^. FlGWORT TrIBE. 



Our pretty Euphrasy received its name from 

 Euphrosyne, and is thus expressive of joy or 

 pleasure. It merits the distinction, for few who 

 love flowers would look on it without gratifi- 

 cation. Its little blossoms are sprinkled over 

 the sides of chalky cliffs, or they stud the short 

 grass of mountains or open plains, or are almost 

 hidden among the taller herbage of the pasture 

 land. The plant is sometimes only an inch in 

 height, and bears but a single flower ; but it 

 varies so much, that on situations where it 

 thrives well, it becomes branched and taller, 

 and many blossoms are scattered among its 

 leaves. The foliage is of bright green, and 

 deeply notched ; and the blossoms are either 

 white or pale lilac, streaked with purple. The 

 plant is very frequent, flowering from June to 

 August. Beautiful as it is, its name probably 

 refers rather to its properties than its loveli- 

 ness. It was supposed, some centuries since, 

 that the application of this plant Avould " make 

 okl eyes young again ; " and our old herbaUst, 



