Euphrasia frigida

Stems simple or branched, to 14 cm; branches 1 or 2 pairs, from middle cauline nodes; cauline internode lengths 2–3(–6) times leaves or, in very compact forms, lengths 0.5–1 times leaves. Leaves: blade oblanceolate to ovate, 2–9(–12) mm, margins crenate-dentate to serrate-dentate, teeth 1 or 2(–4) pairs, apices obtuse to acute. Inflorescences beginning at node 2–4; bracts green, sometimes purplish, broader than leaves, ovate to obovate, length not more than 2 times width, (2.5–)4–11(–14) mm, surfaces sparsely to moderately hirsute and glandular-pubescent and hairs glandular, stalks 1- or 2-celled, 0.1–0.2 mm, teeth 2–5 pairs, as long as or slightly longer than wide, apices subacute to acute, rarely aristate. Flowers: corolla white, sometimes tinged lilac, 5–8 mm, abaxial lip exceeding adaxial. Capsules oblong to elliptic or obovate, 6–8 mm, apex retuse or emarginate. 2n = 44.

Phenology: Flowering summer.
Habitat: Wet or dry, rocky, grassy, or sandy places, usually coastal.
Elevation: 0–1000 m.

Greenland, Nfld. and Labr., Que.

Discussion

H. W. Pugsley (1933b) chose a glandular-pubescent specimen from Greenland (Ujarasguit, Godthaabs Fjord, W. Greenland, S. Hansen s.n., 13 VIII 1885, C) as the lectotype of Euphrasia frigida, fixing application of the name E. frigida to the glandular-pubescent form with medium-sized corollas that occurs in Greenland, Newfoundland, and Quebec (P. D. Sell and P. F. Yeo 1970). See 16. E. wettsteinii for the widely distributed and circumpolar, small-flowered, eglandular form that has traditionally been treated as E. frigida (G. Gussarova 2005).

Euphrasia latifolia Pursh and E. latifolia Pursh ex Wettstein, names sometimes considered to be later homonyms of E. latifolia Linnaeus and that apply here, were never formally published.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa