Family - Clusiaceae

Common Name - Common St. John's Wort

Description

An erect plant with bright yellow flowers. The 5 petals are more than twice the length of the 5 sepals. The sepals are narrow, pointed, untoothed and evenly sized. Other species of Hypericum differ. The numerous leaves have both black and translucent glands. These can be best seen when the leaf is held up against a light. The black glands are found particularly around the margins of the leaf and on the sepals. The translucent glands are numerous and fairly evenly spread across the leaf. The stem is rounded, except for 2 longitudinal ridges.

Habitats

Description of Genus

Herbaceous and woody plants. Leaves opposite, often spotted with glands. The flowers are yellow and have 5 petals and 5 sepals. The fruit is either a capsule or berry.

Habitat Notes

On calcareous soils in hedgebanks, woods and grassland.

Life History

UK distribution

Widespread except in the far north. (See Map)

Flowering Time

In flower during June, July, August and September.

Fruit

The fruit is a capsule.

Flower

The flower is actinomorphic and is yellow in colour.

Names in other languages and countries

France
Herbe-à-mille-trous
Germany
Durchlöchertes Johanniskraut
Spain
Corazoncillo
hipericón
Sweden
äkta johannesört
Dutch
Sint-Janskruid
Finland
maekikuisma
laepikuisma
Poland
Dziurawiec zwyczajny

Worldwide distribution

Europe
West-Asia
Northern-Africa

Chromosome Number (2N)

32