Euphrasia ostenfeldii

Description

This annual occurs in sparsely vegetated areas in very well-drained, exposed habitats, including dry limestone rock ledges, eroding sea-cliffs, fine-gravel screes, bare serpentine debris and sandy coastal turf. 0-760 m (Cul Mor, W. Ross, and Helvellyn, Cumberland). Although many plants now recognised as this tetraploid species were previously referred to E. curta, the current taxonomic treatment only dates from 1971 and E. ostenfeldii is therefore under-recorded. It has also been confused with E. marshallii and E. rotundifolia, and hybrids are known with E. foulaensis. Populations from the southern end of its range (var. rupestris) may merit subspecific status.