Tenterfield Eyebright - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Euphrasia orthocheila subsp. peraspera

Conservation status in NSW: Endangered

Commonwealth status: Not listed

Gazetted date: 13 Dec 2002

Profile last updated: 11 Oct 2022

Description

Tenterfield Eyebright is an upright, much-branched herb up to 60 cm high. The plant is covered in short, white hairs and dies after flowering and fruiting. The paired leaves are narrow and spear-shaped, and usually bear 1 or 2 pairs of teeth on their margins. The trumpet-shaped flowers are yellow and borne on the ends of branches in loose spikes of 15 to 40. Flowers appear in late spring to early summer.

Distribution

Probably extinct throughout much of its former range, this subspecies has been recorded from Dorrigo to Tenterfield and west to Torrington, although most records are very old. Currently only known from two swamps in the Tenterfield area.

Habitat and ecology

Little is known about the habitat and ecology of this subspecies. Recorded from 'moist open situations' such as swamps.
Flowering generally from November to December.
Tenterfield Eyebright is an 'annual', ie each plant lives for one year and dies after flowering and fruit-set has finished. Some plants may merely die back to ground level, leaving the underground parts to resprout the following season. This annual 'disappearance' means that surveys for this plant must be confined to its flowering season.
Tenterfield Eyebright is partly parasitic upon other plants and may only be able to grow in close proximity to such host plants.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Small population size.
Predation by feral pigs.
Grazing by domestic stock.
Change to hydrology of swamp areas.
Insufficient understanding of distribution.
Insufficient understanding of taxonomy.
Insufficient understanding of the species ecological requirements.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Maintain natural hydrology of swamp areas where this plant occurs.
Protect habitat from damage by pigs.
Prevent trampling of populations by humans.
Protect habitat from grazing by stock.
Study and monitor populations to determine this plant's biology.
Search areas of likely habitat during flowering season.

Information sources

Barker, W.R. (1982) Taxonomic studies in Euphrasia L. (Scrophulariaceae). A revised infrageneric classification, and a revision of the genus in Australia. Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens 5:280-285
Harden, G.J. (ed.) (1992) Flora of New South Wales Vol. 3. UNSW Press, Kensington, NSW.
NSW Scientific Committee (2002) Euphrasia orthocheila subsp. peraspera (an annual herb) - Endangered species determination - final. DEC (NSW), Sydney.

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

New England Tablelands	Binghi Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Ebor Basalts	Predicted	None
New England Tablelands	Stanthorpe Plateau	Known	None
New England Tablelands	Tenterfield Plateau	Predicted	None
NSW North Coast	Chaelundi	Known	None

Images

Herbarium sample, Tenterfield Eyebright Image 1 of 3.
View slideshow.

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