Euphrasia disjuncta

Stems simple or branched, to 25 cm; branches 1–6 pairs, erect, from middle and distal cauline nodes; cauline internode lengths (2.5–) 3–5 times subtending leaves. Leaves: blade broadly ovate, suborbiculate, or oval, 3–9 (–11.5) mm, margins crenate to crenate-serrate, teeth 1–4 (or 5), apices subacute to acute. Inflorescences sparsely spicate, not 4-angled, beginning at node 3–8; proximal internode lengths 1–3 times bracts; bracts purplish adaxially, broader than leaves, ovate to obovate, length not more than 2 times width, 5–8 mm, base cuneate, surfaces hirsute and hairs eglandular or pubescent and hairs glandular, stalks sometimes flexuous, 3–6-celled, 0.2–0.6 mm, teeth (2 or) 3 or 4 (or 5) pairs, longer than wide, apices acute, sinuses between teeth acute. Flowers: calyx lobes straight, apex acute; corolla white, 4–5.5 mm, lips moreorless equal. Capsules oblong to elliptic, 4–5 mm, apex truncate to retuse.

Phenology: Flowering mid summer–fall.
Habitat: Damp woods, gravel and ledges near streams, bogs.
Elevation: 0–600 m.

Nfld. and Labr., N.S., Nunavut, Que., Maine.

Discussion

The circumscription of Euphrasia disjuncta follows that of E. Hultén (1941–1950, vol. 7, 1968) and P. D. Sell and P. F. Yeo (1970). According to the protologue, E. disjuncta was understood as having a disjunct distribution in western and eastern North America. Western populations (Alberta, Northwest Territories, and Alaska) are treated here as the chiefly glandular-pubescent E. subarctica; eastern populations are treated as typically eglandular E. disjuncta. The holotype (Fernald, Wiegand & Darlington 6169, GH) comprises only eglandular individuals and thus unambiguously assigns the name. Both glandular and eglandular forms are found growing mixed together, similar to the situation in E. subarctica; see additional comments under 1. E. subarctica.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa