Interesting facts

The reason for the scientific name Euphrasia, which comes from the Greek and means gladness or wellbeing, soon becomes clear when you look into the plant's little face: with its bright yellow spot and fine violet veins it does indeed have a joyful countenance.

In the Middle Ages eyebright was burnt as incense to achieve clairvoyance.

Farmers don't welcome eyebright on their meadows, which is reflected in some of its German common names such as Wiesenwolf (meadow wolf) or Milchdieb (milk thief). They say that it reduces the grass yield. This probably stems from the fact that, as semiparasite, eyebright draws dissolved minerals from the grasses, which can indeed inhibit their growth.

On the other hand, farmers also use eyebright to predict the weather: if the first flowers appear at the top of the branch, it is said that there will be an early winter.