Species of flowering plants in the broomrape family
Euphrasia salisburgensis is a plant in the genus Euphrasia, in the family Orobanchaceae.
Characteristics and distribution
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
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