KYiiBRIGHT. 289 



light green, deeper at the margin, and tinged with purple ; 

 veins branching, prominent beneath. The flowers are solitary 

 and sub-sessile in the axils of the upper leaves, which they 

 rather exceed in length. The calyx is tubular, angular, pubes- 

 cent, light green with purplish ribs^ and divided at the margin 

 into four deep, erect, nearly equal, ovate-acuminate teeth. The 

 corolla is bilabiate, white, streaked with purple, yellowish on 

 the palate ; the tube cylindrical, curved ; the upper lip slightly 

 concave, over-arching the stamens, bifid, with obtuse, emargi- 

 nate lobes ; the lower lip with three deep, nearly equal, emargi- 

 nate lobes. The stamens are didynamous, with thread-shaped 

 filaments ; anthers two- celled, pvirple, spurred at the base. 

 The germen is ovate, four- parted, rather hairy, surmounted by a 

 filiform, downy style, terminated by an obtuse, bifid stigma, 

 fringed with minute glands. The capsule is ovate-oblong, 

 compressed, emarginate, two-valved, and two-celled, con- 

 taining several whitish, striated seeds. Plate 18, fig, 4, (a) the 

 calyx ; (b) the corolla seen in front ; (c) the same opened to show 

 the stamens ; (d) the fruit enclosed in the persistent calyx. 



This lively little plant raises its elegant pencilled flowers on 

 sterile plains and inountainous pastures, throughout the months 

 of July and August, and often to the end of September. 

 It is very generally dispersed over the world, and is met with 

 as far north as Lapland. 



The pretty aspect of the flower, gemmed as it is with a 

 yellow eye, most probably suggested the name Eyebright, in 

 Latin Euphrasia, apparently derived from the Greek sv^P'-'SWYj, 

 which sio-nifies Joy or gladness. Some consider that the name 

 was given in allusion to its efficacy in diseases of the eyes, but 

 the first writers who record its medicinal properties are Arnoldus 

 de Villa Nova, who flourished at the beginning of the fourteenth 

 century, and Gordon, who -pnhlishedhis Lilmm Medicince'm 1305. 



The older poets, who have noticed this plant, do so in 

 allusion to the remedial powers with which in their day it was 

 so confidently invested. Milton tells us that — 



" RUchael from Adam's eyes the film removed, 

 Which the false fruit, that promised clearer sight, 

 Had bred ; then purged with euphrasy and rue 

 The visual nerve, for he had much to see." 



Par. Lost, book xi. 1. 412. 



