Location of Eyebright

There are 170 different species of eyebright with most of them being European. This herb is found in dry or moist fields, along roadsides, or in waste places. Geographically it is located from the subarctic south to Quebec, in Bulgaria, Hungary, and the Balkans, as well as in a few northern states such as Maine, Massachusetts, and New York. It is also grown commercially in Europe.

This elegant annual grows 4-8 inches tall and flowers from July to September. The stem is erect and wiry with either no branches in small plants or with many opposite branches in larger plants. The leaves are up to ½ inch long and about ¼ inch wide. On the lower portion of the
stem the leaves are opposite each other. The upper stem has alternate leaves which are sometimes much broader. The leaves are deeply cut and sometimes have four to five teeth on each side.

There are numerous small white or lilac flowers variegated with yellow. These flowers are purple veined and are in terminal spikes, with leafy bracts interspersed. The corolla lip is equal to or exceeds the tube and the bracts of the flower-spike are broad at the base. The corolla is two lipped and its lower tube-like portion in enclosed in a green calyx which is tipped with four teeth. The upper lip is two lobed and arches over the stamens forming a protection from the rain. The lower lip is spreading and three lobed with each lobe being notched. There is a yellow spot on the central lobe and the purple veins on both lips act as honey guides for the bees.

Under the upper lip, in pairs, one behind the other, are the four stamens. These have brown, downy anthers and on the underside of each anther is a stiff spur which projects over the throat of the flower. The upper spurs end in small brushes which are intended to prevent the pollen from being scattered and wasted. Cross fertilization is achieved when bees rub against the outstanding stigma which terminates in the style on the ovary projecting beyond the stamens. Self fertilization can also be achieved when the corolla elongates after opening so that the
stamens heads are brought up to the stigma and their pollen fertilizes it. The capsules are tiny and flattened with seeds that are numerous and ribbed.

The structure of the flower puts the plant in the family of the foxglove and the speedwell or scrophulariaceae family. More recent botanists place eyebright in the dicotyledon class, aster
subclass, figwort order, scrophulariaceae or figwort family and the Rattleweed subfamily. It is in this family because it has netted veins in the leaves and because it has irregular flowers with 4
stamens, 4 united sepals, and 3 lobes down and 2 lobes up. It also has capsules with numerous seeds.

Eyebright is a semi parasitic plant whose roots attach to grasses. Where the suckers from the eyebright root contact grass rootlets, tiny nodules form and send absorption cells into the grass rootlets. The grass does not suffer very much and no permanent damage is done. Above ground the eyebright plant doesn’t appear parasitic because it has green leaves and normal flowers which are lacking in fully parasitic plants.