Eyebright

Eyebright (Euphrasia), a genus of Scrophulariaceæ. The British species (E. officinalis) is a root-parasite common in pastures and grassy uplands, which at the end of summer are gemmed abundantly with its bright little flowers. From this general aspect and spotted corolla the popular name is derived; hence, too, the doctrine of signatures ascribed it an efficacy in the treatment of eye-diseases, which a mild astringency long aided it to maintain. It is the Euphrasy of Milton.