Biology
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This species seems to have evolved by crossing between two different species of eyebright; Euphrasia anglia and Euphrasia miracantha (2). During the Middle Ages, the related species Euphrasia officinalis was used to brighten the eyes, hence the common name 'eyebright' (4).
Conservation
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There are two sites on Dartmoor where this species occurs. Suitable habitat management is underway at both sites (3).
Description
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This attractive endemic eyebright produces large (2), lilac-deep purple flowers, which are occasionally white (1). The leaves and bracts are covered in long hairs (3).
Habitat
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Grows on bristle brent (Argostis curtisii) and western gorse (Ulex galli) heathlands (3). The species requires fairly open conditions and short grass created by grazing or burning to keep the gorse and heather in check (3). It often occurs alongside paths in coastal areas, where regular trampling maintains open conditions (2).
Range
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Occurs in Devon, where it has always been rare, and in Cornwall (3).
Status
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Vulnerable in Great Britain (2).
Threats
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Habitat destruction has resulted in the loss of this plant at a number of sites in inland Cornwall (5). Grazing maintains the open conditions favoured by this species, so the widespread decline in grazing poses a threat (5).
Euphrasia vigursii
provided by wikipedia EN
Euphrasia vigursii, also known by its common names of Vigur's eyebright[3] or Cornish eyebright,[4] is an endangered annual of the eyebright family which is endemic to Devon and Cornwall.[5][6][7] It is a facultative hemiparasite and needs open conditions and regular grazing of larger shrubs and grasses to grow.[8][9] It is named after C. C. Vigurs, a Cornish doctor and botanist.[1]
Appearance
E. vigursii can be identified by its bright reddish-purple flowers and long glandular hairs on its upper leaves.[7] It has dull grey-green leaves, often permeated with violet or black due to anthocyanins.[10] It is considered a stable hybrid between Euphrasia micrantha and Euphrasia anglica.[10]
Distribution
E. vigursii is endemic to the Agrostis curtisii-Ulex galli heathlands of South West England,[9][11] specifically Cornwall and Devon.[7] The largest global population of E. virgusii is believed to be Lydford High Down in Dartmoor National Park, Devon,[7][11] which had 21,000 instances in 2002.[8] This dropped as low as 97 in 2004 but has since recovered to a stable level at between 250 and 350 (for comparison, levels recorded at other sites in Devon have never reached more than 10).[7]
References
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^ a b F. Hamilton Davey (June 1907). "Euphrasia vigursii sp. n." Journal of Botany, British and Foreign. 45: 217-220. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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^ "Euphrasia vigursii Davey". Catalog of Life 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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^ "Euphrasia vigursii - Vigur's Eyebright". Aphotoflora. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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^ McCarthy, Michael (16 May 1998). "A quiet British tragedy". The Independent. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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^ "Mid Cornwall Moors SSSI" (PDF). DEFRA. p. 3. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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^ "Euphrasia vigursii Davey". Natural History Museum. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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^ a b c d e "Dartmoor Delivery Plan for Vigur's Eyebright" (PDF). Dartmoor.gov. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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^ a b Fotherby, Richard; Ramsay, Paul. "Conservation of Euphrasia vigursii, an endemic plant of SW England": 1. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.539.163.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) -
^ a b "Euphrasia vigursii Davey". NBN Atlas. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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^ a b Granados, L.; Lane, S. D. (2007). "A fine scale study of selected environmental and floristic parameters in three populations of Euphrasia vigursii (Davey), a rare annual endemic to Devon and Cornwall" (PDF). Watsonia. 26: 347–358. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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^ a b Ramsay, Paul; Fotherby, Richard (May 2007). "Implications of the spatial pattern of Vigur's Eyebright (Euphrasia vigursii) for heathland management". Basic and Applied Ecology. 8 (3): 242–251. doi:10.1016/j.baae.2006.06.001. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
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Euphrasia vigursii: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Euphrasia vigursii, also known by its common names of Vigur's eyebright or Cornish eyebright, is an endangered annual of the eyebright family which is endemic to Devon and Cornwall. It is a facultative hemiparasite and needs open conditions and regular grazing of larger shrubs and grasses to grow. It is named after C. C. Vigurs, a Cornish doctor and botanist.
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