Euphrasia L.

Eyebrights

20 species endemic Aust.; all states and territories except NT

Erect to trailing, perennial herbs branching from the base, parasitic on other plants. Leaves opposite, toothed or crenate, with sessile glands underneath. Flowers in terminal spike-like racemes, irregular. Calyx 4-lobed. Corolla yellow, white to purplish or blue, 5-lobed, 2-lipped; the upper lip recurved. Stamens 4, didynamous, dehiscing by pores, awned. Ovary 2-locular; stigma 2-lobed. Fruit a loculicidal capsule.Two other species E. scabra ( Endangered) and E. orthocheila are considered to possibly occur in the Sydney area. They can be distinguished by their yellow flowers.