Eyebrights
Euphrasia spp.
Family: Orobanchaceae
Examples: E. confusa, E. frigida, E. micrantha, E. officinalis agg
Fire effect on plant
Eyebrights are presumably killed by fire.
Key traits
UK native Eyebrights are semi-parasitic annual herbs.There is no information in the literature about the direct effect fire has on eyebrights native to the UK, but their annual life history suggests that plants have no capacity to survive fire.
Eyebright seed responses to fire are similarly unknown, although information from eyebrights in other parts of the world suggests that copious seed is produced and that profuse germination follows fire (Potts, 1999). In Norwegian Calluna heathlands managed by traditional heather burning, E. micrantha was found in the standing biomass but not in the seedback 2-4 years after a fire only (i.e. not on sites that had burned 5 – 12 years before; Måren & Vandvik, 2009), suggests a relatively short-lived seedbank. Seed disperal in Euphrasia species is poor (0.1-1m; Lososová et al, 2023)
Plant response to fire
Evidence from one eyebright species (E. micrantha) suggests eyebrights may increase in abundance for a few years after fire, due to recruitment from the soil stored seedbank (Måren & Vandvik, 2009). However, the absence of fire or other disturbance, may mean suitable habitat is not maintained (with taller species overgrowing and shading eyebrights), and that eyebright numbers decline.
Timing of life history
Annual species. Seeds produced within one growing season. Flowering June to September.
Conservation status
BAP - Euphrasia anglica, Euphrasia cambrica, Euphrasia campbelliae, Euphrasia heslop- harrisonii, Euphrasia marshallii, Euphrasia ostenfeldii, Euphrasia pseudokerneri, Euphrasia rivularis, Euphrasia rostkoviana subsp. montana, Euphrasia rotundifolia, Euphrasia vigursii.
References
Lososová Z., Axmanová I., Chytrý M., Midolo G., Abdulhak S., Karger D.N., Renaud J., Van Es J., Vittoz P. & Thuiller W. (2023). Seed dispersal distance classes and dispersal modes for the European flora. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 32(9), 1485–1494 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Måren, I.E. and Vandvik, V. (2009), Fire and regeneration: the role of seed banks in the dynamics of northern heathlands. Journal of Vegetation Science, 20: 871-888 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Potts, W.C. (1999). NON-CURRENT Recovery Plans for Threatened Tasmanian Lowland Euphrasia Species - 1997-2001. TAS DPIWE [Expert opinion; grey literature]