Common St. Johnswort, Hypericum perforatum
Hypericaceae or St. Johnswort Family
(in some books the Hypericaceae is included in the Clusiaceae or Mangosteen Family)
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Upright plant to several feet tall. Leaves narrowly oblong, opposite each other, stalkless, with a tiny point. Golden-yellow flowers at top of plant in branching clusters, with 5 petals and many stamens. Petals are orange-dotted along margins.
Blooms in summer.
A common alien weed of roadsides, and open areas. In Wildwood may be found in wet or dry, open areas, especially along the Bikeway and Wildwood Drive. The 5 yellow petals and many stamens is an easily recognized feature of St. Johnsworts. Spotted St. Johnswort (H. punctatum) is similar, but prefer wet places and has petals dotted on the back, not the sides, as well as wider, black-dotted leaves. Shrubby St. Johnswort (H. prolificum) is a woody shrub with pale yellow petals and many more stamens. Many other species of St. Johnsworts occur in Virginia, but have not been reported from the Park, yet. |
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