font settings and languages

Font Size: Large | Normal | Small
Font Face: Verdana | Geneva | Georgia
Languages:

Hypericum ascyron

(Great St. Johnswort)

Interesting Facts

[ Back to top ]
 

Common Names

[ Back to top ]

Common Names in English:

Great St. Johnswort

Description

[ Back to top ]

Genus Hypericum

[Trees or] shrubs , subshrubs , or perennial herbs, glabrous or with simple hairs , with translucent ("pale") and often opaque , black or reddish ("dark") glands , laminar (immersed and sometimes abaxial ) and marginal or intramarginal . Leaves opposite [or whorled ], sessile or short petiolate , venation pinnate to palmate [or rarely dichotomous], margin entire or gland-fringed. Inflorescence cymose . Flowers bisexual , homostylous [or heterostylous], stellate or cupped. Sepals 5 and quincuncial or rarely 4 and decussate, unequal or equal, free or partly united . Petals (4 or) 5, contorted, golden to lemon yellow [or rarely white], abaxially sometimes tinged or veined red, persistent or deciduous after anthesis , usually asymmetric . Stamens in [4 or]5 fascicles, free and antipetalous , or some united to form apparently 4 or 3 fascicles with compound fascicle(s) antisepalous , or irregular and apparently not fasciculate, persistent or deciduous, each single fascicle with up to 70[-120] stamens; filaments slender, free from nearly base [or to 2/3 united] or apparently completely free; anthers small, dorsifixed or ± basifixed , dehiscing longitudinally, with gland on connective ; sterile fascicles (fasciclodes) absent [very rare]. Ovary 3-5-loculed with axile placentae or ± completely 1-loculed with (2 or) 3[-5] parietal placentae, each placenta with [2 or] few to many ovules; styles (2 or) 3-5, free or partly to completely united, ± slender; stigmas small or ± capitate. Fruit a septicidal capsule or rarely ± indehiscent, valves often with oil-containing vittae or vesicles . Seeds small, often carinate or narrowly unilaterally winged ; testa variously sculptured , not arillate [very rarely carunculate]; embryo slender, straight, with distinct slender cotyledons.

About 460 species: almost cosmopolitan except for arctic and desert areas and most of the lowland tropics; 64 species (33 endemic) in China.[1]

Physical Description

Species Hypericum ascyron

Herbs, perennial , 0.5-1.3(-2) m tall, erect or sometimes ascending from short creeping base ; stems single or few, cespitose, unbranched or branched above or nearly throughout. Stems 4-angled when young, becoming 4-lined or occasionally internodes 2-lined below. Leaves sessile; blade lanceolate or ± narrowly ovate or oblong or elliptic to oblong-linear or oblanceolate , (3-) 4-9.7(-12) × (0.4-) 0.7-3.5(-4) cm, thickly papery , abaxially rather paler but not glaucous; laminar glands dense, unequal dots or short streaks; intramarginal glands dense; main lateral veins 4-7-paired, tertiary reticulation dense, often obscure ; base cuneate to cordate-amplexicaul, apex acute to subapiculate or obtuse (or lowermost rarely rounded ). Inflorescence 1- to ca. 35-flowered from 1-5 nodes, the whole nearly flat-topped to narrowly pyramidal , sometimes with flowering branches from up to 4 nodes below; bracts and bracteoles leaflike but smaller and often broader, more rarely linear-lanceolate and deciduous. Flowers 3-7(-8) cm in diam., stellate with petals spreading to reflexed ; buds broadly to narrowly ovoid , apex rounded to subacute . Sepals free , erect, oblong to elliptic or ovate to ovate-lanceolate or obovate , subequal to unequal, the outer ones sometimes leaflike, (0.3-) 0.5-1.5 cm × (1.5-) 2-7(-10) mm; laminar glands lines , distally interrupted to streaks; marginal glands spaced, small, margin entire, apex rounded to obtuse or rarely subacuminate to acute; veins 11-17. Petals bright (to ?golden) yellow, sometimes tinged red in bud, obovate or oblong-obovate to oblanceolate, often somewhat spatulate to subunguiculate, strongly curved to nearly straight, 1.4-4.1 × 0.5-2 cm, 2-3 × as long as sepals or shorter when sepals leaflike; laminar glands lines to short streaks; marginal glands absent; margin entire, apex rounded or obtuse to rarely acute to acuminate; apiculus short and rounded or absent. Stamen fascicles (?4 or) 5, each with ca. 30 stamens, longest 0.9-2.5 cm, 0.4-0.67 × as long as petals. Ovary broadly ovoid to narrowly ovoid-pyramidal or ellipsoid ; styles (4 or) 5, 2.5-15 mm, 0.5-2 × as long as ovary, free or up to 0.8 coherent or connate ; stigmas broadly capitate to funnel-shaped. Capsule broadly to narrowly ovoid or ovoid-pyramidal or rarely narrowly cylindric , 0.9-2.2(-3) cm × 5-13 mm, 2-3 × as long as sepals, apex obtuse to rounded. Seeds dark red-brown to yellow-brown, 1-1.5 mm, deeply carinate or narrowly winged , sometimes with slight terminal expansion; testa densely shallowly linear-reticulate. Fl. Jun-Sep, fr. Aug-Oct. 2n = 16, 18, 20, 22 (usually 18). [source]

Hypericum ascyron is a highly variable species or species complex with a very wide distribution. Although several variants have been recognized as varieties or even species, the variation appears to be nearly continuous. [source]

The most frequently distinguished taxon has been Hypericum gebleri, which most Russian authors have recognized, as it occurs throughout most of S Siberia along with larger-flowered, less-branched forms and is present alone in Kamchatka, the Kurile Islands, and Sakhalin. On the other hand, Chinese authors have tended to include it in H. ascyron, because intermediate forms occur in the north. The North American population, too, was recognized early at species level but none of the characters said to distinguish it appears to be constant. [source]

Under these circumstances, it seems best to distinguish the N Asian Hypericum gebleri and the North American H. pyramidatum Aiton as subspecies (see Robson, Bull . Nat. Hist. Mus. Lond. (Bot.) 31: 37-88. 2001). It seems impossible to recognize the long-styled (mainly large-flowered and northern) plants and the narrow-fruited, C Chinese ones (respectively var. longistylum and var. giraldii [var. hupehense]) as distinct taxa, as both represent extremes of continuous variation. Likewise, the narrow-leaved, small-flowered form from S China (misidentified as var. angustifolium Y. Kimura) merges with more typical forms. [source]

Habit: Forb/herb

Flowers: Bloom Period: June, July, August. • Flower Color: yellow

Size/Age/Growth

Size: 24-36" tall.

Landscaping

Care: Shear after flowering to encourage reblooming. Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish an extensive root system . Feed regularly during the growing season with a general purpose fertilizer . Prune annually in late winter to promote vigorous new growth.

Habitat

Moist to dry meadows, grassy or rocky slopes , sometimes in forests or among scrub , streamsides and river banks; sea level to 2800(-3600) m. [2].

Typically found at an altitude of 0 to 867 meters (0 to 2,844 feet).[3]

Biology

[ Back to top ]

Reproduction

Duration: Perennial

Growth

Culture: Space 18-36" apart. Likes cool areas.

Soil: Prefers organic soil. Needs well-drained soil. Good for dry soils.

Sunlight: Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade.

Temperature: Cold Hardiness: 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b. (map)

Taxonomy

[ Back to top ]

Synonyms

Hypericum pyramidatum Ait.

Notes

Publishing author : L. Publication : Sp. Pl. 2: 783 1753 [1 May 1753]

Similar Species

[ Back to top ]

Members of the genus Hypericum

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 124 species, subspecies, varieties, forms, and cultivars in this genus. Here are just 100 of them:

H. acutifolium (Sharpleaf St. Johnswort) · H. adpressum (Creeping St. Johnswort) · H. anagalloides (Tinker's Penny) · H. androsaemum (Sweet Amber) · H. androsaemum L. 'Gladys Brabazon' (Sweet Amber) · H. androsaemum 'Albury Purple' (Sweet Amber) · H. androsaemum 'Esm Cho' (Tutsan 'esm Cho') · H. androsaemum 'Esm Española' (Tutsan 'esm Espa) · H. androsaemum 'Esm Greli' (Tutsan 'esm Greli') · H. androsaemum 'Esm Kalua' (Tutsan 'esm Kalua') · H. androsaemum 'Esm Ora' (Tutsan 'esm Ora') · H. androsaemum 'Esm Pin' (Tutsan 'esm Pin') · H. androsaemum 'Esm Re' (Tutsan 'esm Re') · H. androsaemum 'Esm Wet' (Tutsan 'esm Wet') · H. androsaemum 'Glacier' (Sweet Amber) · H. androsaemum 'Glob Dr205' (Tutsan 'glob Dr205') · H. androsaemum 'Glob Lp208' (Tutsan 'glob Lp208') · H. androsaemum 'Golden Tutsan' (Golden Tutsan St. John's Wort) · H. androsaemum 'Verpeacla' (Tutsan 'verpeacla') · H. ascyron (Great St. Johnswort) · H. ascyron gebleri (Great St. Johnswort) · H. boreale (Northern St. Johnswort) · H. brachyphyllum (Coastalplain St. Johnswort) · H. brathys (St. Johnswort) · H. buckleii (Buckley's St. Johnswort) · H. calcycinum (St. John's Wort) · H. calycinum (Aaron's Beard) · H. calycinum 'Brigadoon' (Aaron's Beard) · H. canadense (Lesser Canadian St. Johnswort) · H. canadense boreale (Lesser Canadian St. Johnswort) · H. canariense (Canary Island St. Johnswort) · H. cerastoides (Hypericum) · H. chapmanii (Apalachicola St. Johnswort) · H. cistifolium (Round-Pod St John´s-Wort) · H. concinnum (Goldwire) · H. crux-andreae (Atlantic St. Peter's-Wort) · H. cumulicola (Highlands Scrub Hypericum) · H. densiflorum (Bushy St. Johnswort) · H. denticulatum (Coppery St. Johnswort) · H. diosmoides (Puerto Rico St. Johnswort) · H. dissimulatum (Disguised St. Johnswort) · H. dolabriforme (Straggling St. Johnswort) · H. drummondii (Nits and Lice) · H. edisonianum (Edison Ascyrum) · H. ellipticum (Pale St. Johnswort) · H. elodes (Marsh Hypericum) · H. exile (Florida Sands St. Johnswort) · H. fasciculatum (Peelbark St. Johnswort) · H. forrestii (Forrests St. Johns Wort) · H. fortuneana 'Purple Fountain' (St. Johns Wort) · H. frondosum (Golden St John´s-Wort) · H. frondosum 'Sunburst' (Cedarglade St. John's Wort) · H. galioides (Bedstraw St. Johnswort) · H. gentianoides (Orangegrass) · H. gramineum (Small St John´s-Wort) · H. graveolens (Mountain St. Johnswort) · H. gymnanthum (Claspingleaf St. Johnswort) · H. harperi (Sharplobe St. Johnswort) · H. hookerianum (Hookers St. Johnswort) · H. humifusum (Trailing St John´s-Wort) · H. humifusum suborbiculatum (Trailing St. Johnswort) · H. hypericoides (Reclining St Andrew's Cross) · H. hypericoides hypericoides (St Andrews Cross) · H. hypericoides multicaule (St. Andrew's Cross) · H. hypericoides subsp. multicaule (St. Andrew's Cross) · H. japonicum (Matted St. Johns Wort) · H. kalmianum (Kalm´s St John´s-Wort) · H. kelleri (Hypericum) · H. lancasteri (Lancasters St. Johns Wort) · H. laricifolium (St. Johns Wort) · H. lissophloeus (Smoothbark St. Johnswort) · H. lloydii (Sandhill St. Johnswort) · H. lobocarpum (Fivelobe St. Johnswort) · H. majus (Large St Johnswort) · H. microsepalum (Flatwoods St. Johnswort) · H. mitchellianum (Blue Ridge St. Johnswort) · H. moseranum 'Tri-Color' (Gold Flower) · H. moserianum (St. Johnswort) · H. multicaule (St. Andrew's Cross) · H. mutilum (Dwarf St Johnswort) · H. myrtifolium (Myrtleleaf St. Johnswort) · H. nitidum (Carolina St. Johnswort) · H. nudiflorum (Early St. Johnswort) · H. oblongifolium (St. Johnswort) · H. olympicum f. minus 'Variegatum' (St. Johns Wort) · H. parvulum (Sierra Madre St. Johnswort) · H. patulum Thunb. 'Sungold' (St. Johns Wort) · H. patulum 'Hidcote' (Hidcote Hypericum) · H. patulum 'Variegatum' (St. Johns Wort) · H. pauciflorum (Fewflower St. Johnswort) · H. perforatum (Common St Johnswort) · H. perforatum chinense (Common St Johnswort) · H. polyphyllum (Rockery St. Johns Wort) · H. prolificum (Cinnamon Stick) · H. pseudomaculatum (False Spotted St. Johnswort) · H. pulchrum (Slender St. Johns Wort) · H. punctatum (Spotted St Johnswort) · H. reductum (St Johns Wort) · H. reptans (Creeping St. John's Wort) · H. revolutum keniense (Forest-Primrose)

More Info

[ Back to top ]

Further Reading

[ Back to top ]

Notes

[ Back to top ]

Contributors

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. Xi-wen Li & Norman K. B. Robson "Hypericum". in Flora of China Vol. 13 Page 1, 2. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  2. "Hypericum ascyron". in Flora of China Vol. 13 Page 4, 20, 21. Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org. [back]
  3. Mean = 278.740 meters (914.501 feet), Standard Deviation = 234.750 based on 273 observations. Altitude information for each observation from British Oceanographic Data Centre. [back]
Last Revised: 7/15/2012