Bulletin UASVM Horticulture, 66(1)/2009 Print ISSN 1843-5254; Electronic ISSN 1843-5394 Euphrasia liburnica from Romania Daniel RADUTOIU University of Craiova, Faculty of Horticulture, Biology Department, 15 Libertatii St., Craiova 200585, Romania; [email protected] Keywords: Euphrasia liburnica, Romania ABSTRACT In many European countries, the taxonomy and corology of the Euphrasia species, including in Romania, remain unclear even nowadays. As a result of collecting and analyzing a material from the Căpătânii Mountains, Beleoaia Peack, material belonging to the Euphrasia genus, we have noticed that it corresponds to a taxon which even now is placed under question in Romania's flora. The analysis of our material according to recent literature has led to the conclusion that the species is part of the E. stricta group, which is recognized by the usually rigid and erect stem and branches. Leaves glabrous to densely hairy, frequently also with short glandular hairs, usually narrowly ovate or elliptical to oblong-lanceolate; floral leaves usually appressed to the flower, with long, very acute to aristate teeth, the basal teeth apically directed. Capsule usually much shorter than calyx, oblong to elliptic-oblong. Within this group, in the 3rd volume of Flora Europaea, 4 species are included: Euphrasia stricta D. Wolff ex J. F. Lehm. (E. brevipila Burnat et Gremli, E. condensata Jordan, E. tatarica auct., non Fischer ex Sprengel), E. hyperborea Joerg., E. pectinata Ten. (E. tatarica Fischer ex Sprengel) and E. liburnica Wettst. From this whole group, in our country's flora are treated only two species: Euphrasia stricta D. Wolff ex J. F. Lehm. Which includes the subspecies pectinata (Ten.) P. Fourn (E. tatarica Fischer ex Sprengel) and the subspecies brevipila (Burnat et Gremli) Ciocârlan and E. liburnica Wettst. (with a question mark). Among the taxons of the material we collected, it corresponded to Euphrasia liburnica Wettst., thus clarifying the question marks from various works regarding the presence of this taxon in our flora. When determining the taxon we used material we collected ourselves from the above-mentioned research area, which we analyzed according to recent specialized literature. It is recognized by the following characters: 15-25 cm stem, purple leaves, glabrous or with hairs, not glossy when faded; the superior ones and the bracts ± ovate, length maximum two times greater then the width, with close-together dents. The corolla has a length of 4,5- 6,5 mm, and is lilac- coloured. The first flower appears at nodes 5-8. The capsule presents frequent and long ciliums on the edges, shorter or equal to the calyx. The proportion between the length and the width of the capsule is above 2. REFERENCES 1. Ciocârlan V. (2000). The Romanian ilustrated Flora. (in Romanian). Pteridophyta et Spermatophyta. 1038 pag. Edit. Ceres, Bucureşti. 2. Tutin, T. G., V. H. Heywood, N. A. Burges, D. M. Moore, D. H. Valentine, S. M. Walters, D. A. Webb et al. (1972).. Flora Europaea. Vol. III. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge. Yeo 1972: 263. 674.