Euphrasia salisburgensis
Encyclopedia
Euphrasia salisburgensis is a plant in the subsection Angustifoliae of the genus Euphrasia
, in the family Orobanchaceae
.
has been known in Ireland since the late nineteenth century 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.
species E. salisburgensis is a hemiparasite
. Webb & Scannell in their flora of the Burren
found that it was closely associated with Thymus polytrichus and suggest that it may be a specific hemiparasite of this species.
Euphrasia
Euphrasia is a genus of about 450 species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Orobanchaceae , with a cosmopolitan distribution. They are semi-parasitic on grasses and other plants...
, in the family Orobanchaceae
Orobanchaceae
Orobanchaceae, the broomrape family, is a family of flowering plants of the order Lamiales, with about 90 genera and more than 2000 species. Many of these genera were formerly included in the family Scrophulariaceae sensu lato...
.
Characteristics and distribution
It has a pan-European distribution occurring widely in base-rich sub-alpine areas. The variety hibernica PugsleyPugsley
- People :*Albert Pugsley *Andrew Pugsley *Christopher Pugsley, New Zealand military historian*Cornelius Amory Pugsley *Jacob J. Pugsley , American republican representative*John Pugsley...
has been known in Ireland since the late nineteenth century where it occurs on limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
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.
Ecology
As with other EuphrasiaEuphrasia
Euphrasia is a genus of about 450 species of herbaceous flowering plants in the family Orobanchaceae , with a cosmopolitan distribution. They are semi-parasitic on grasses and other plants...
species E. salisburgensis is a hemiparasite
Parasitic plant
A parasitic plant is one that derives some or all of its sustenance from another plant. About 4,100 species in approximately 19 families of flowering plants are known. Parasitic plants have a modified root, the haustorium, that penetrates the host plant and connects to the xylem, phloem, or...
. Webb & Scannell in their flora of the Burren
Burren
Burren can refer to:*The Burren, a karst landscape in County Clare, Ireland*Burren, County Down, a village in Northern Ireland*Burren College of Art, an art college in Ballyvaughan, County Clare, Ireland*Burrén and Burrena, twin hills in Aragon, Spain...
found that it was closely associated with Thymus polytrichus and suggest that it may be a specific hemiparasite of this species.