Euphrasia salisburgensis

Euphrasia salisburgensis is a plant in the genus Euphrasia, in the family Orobanchaceae.

Euphrasia salisburgensis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Orobanchaceae
Genus: Euphrasia
Species:
E. salisburgensis
Binomial name
Euphrasia salisburgensis
Funck ex Hoppe

Characteristics and distribution

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It has a pan-European distribution occurring widely in base-rich sub-alpine areas. The variety hibernica Pugsley has been known in Ireland since the late nineteenth century[1] where it occurs on limestone rocks and sand dunes. It is distinct from the other Irish members of the genus in that it has a glabrous capsule, normally red-brown or bronze coloured foliage and un-contiguous leaf teeth.[2] The subspecies E. s. subsp. schoenicola is endemic to Gotland.[3]

Ecology

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As with other Euphrasia species E. salisburgensis is a hemiparasite. Webb & Scannell in their flora of the Burren[4] found that it was closely associated with Thymus praecox and suggest that it may be a specific hemiparasite of this species. The subspecies E. s. subsp. schoenicola is instead thought to be a specific hemiparasite of the sedge Schoenus ferrugineus.[3]

References

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  1. ^ Colgan N. (1897). "Euphrasia salisburgensis, Funk., in Ireland". The Irish Naturalist 6 (4) 105-108
  2. ^ Stace, Clive (1997). New Flora of The British Isles, second edition. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  3. ^ a b ArtDatabanken, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences: http://www.artfakta.se/artfaktablad/Euphrasia_Salisburgensis_Subsp_Schoenicola_630.pdf
  4. ^ Webb DA, Scannell MJP. (1983). The Flora of Connemara and the Buirren. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.