General Description:

Euphrasia is a genus of about 215 species which are found in Europe, Asia, North America, northern Africa, Australia and New Zealand.  There are about 20 species native to Australia.  Euphrasias are annual or perennial terrestrial herbs or undershrubs and are semi-parasitic, having lateral rootlets often connected to the roots of other plants.  The plants are also able to photosynthesize via the leaves.  European Euphrasia species have been used in herbal medicines and are still widely used for the treatment of eye conditions such as conjunctivitis, as well as for allegies and sinus infections.

Euphrasia collina is the most common and variable Australian species having 18 subspecies, some of which are unnamed and some which may require reclassification in the future.  It is a perennial herb or subshrub growing from about 10 cm to about half a metre in height.  The leaves are elliptical or oblong in shape and are up to 150 mm long and 15 mm wide with toothed margins. Flowers occur in terminal spikes or clusters and are from 8 -15 mm long.  The flower colour ranges from white to pale lilac or mauve, often with purple or blue markings and a yellow blotch on the lower lip. Flowering occurs mainly in spring and summer.

This attractive small plant can be difficult to establish in cultivation as propagation has proved to be difficult from both seed and cuttings, despite a number of European species being relatively easy to propagate from seed. Most likely, the plant requires a suitable host plant (eg. a grass or herbaceous plant) for successful establishment.  For this reason, the plant is virtually unknown in gardens,

Although there are reports of successful germination of seed, it is possible that germination inhibitors may be present in the seed.  It has been suggested that leaching in running water for 24 hours or longer, or soaking in a gibberallic acid and water solution, may assist germination.  However, problems in growing on after germination still need to be overcome.

* EPBC Act = Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999;
For further information refer the Australian Plants at Risk page