Family: Hypericaceae
Hypericum perforatum
Citation:
L., Sp. Pl. 785 (1753).
Synonymy: H. perforatum L. var. angustifolium DC. in Lam. & DC., Fl. Franc. 5:630 (1815).
Common name: St Johns wort, perforated St Johns wort.
Description:
Stout erect perennial herb; woody near the base, 30-90 cm high, spreading by seed and creeping rhizomes; stems terete, with 2 opposite decurrent raised lines; leaves 1-2 cm long, 2-5 mm wide; narrowly elliptic to narrowly oblong, with recurved margins at least when dry, sometimes with superficial black dots.
Flowers c. 2 cm diam., numerous in cymose corymbs; sepals c. 5 mm long, connate at the base, acute to acuminate; petals twice as long as the sepals, with marginal or intramarginal black dots; stamens numerous, in 3 bundles; styles 3, spreading.
capsule twice as long as the calyx, with many raised oblique linear glands; seeds numerous, golden-brown, curved, cylindric, c. 1 mm long, covered with shiny pits.
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Image source: fig 201a in Jessop J.P. & Toelken H.R. (Ed.) 1986. Flora of South Australia (4th edn).
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Published illustration:
Parsons (1973) Noxious weeds of Victoria, figs 148-152; Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 498.
Distribution:
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A noxious weed in all States and New Zealand. Introduced from Europe and western Asia.
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Conservation status:
naturalised
Flowering time: Nov. — Feb.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
No text
Taxonomic notes:
The S.Aust. specimens appear to belong to the narrow-leaved form (var. angustifolium DC.). As this form intergrades with the typical broad-leaved form in its native habitats, it has been found undesirable to give these forms taxonomic status. This arrangement is as in Robson in Meikle (1977) Flora of Cyprus 1:300.
Author:
Not yet available
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