Hypericum humifusum explained

Hypericum humifusum is a prostrate flowering plant in the St. John's wort family Hypericaceae commonly known as trailing St John's-wort. It is found in Western Europe.

Description

Hypericum humifusum is a low-growing, hairless perennial. The thin trailing stems have two raised lines and bear opposite pairs of pale green elongated oval leaves, often with tiny translucent glands. The undersides of the leaves have tiny black dots on the edges. The flowers are about 1 cm (0.3 in) across and grow from the leaf axils. There are five sepals of unequal size and five yellow petals, often with a few black dots, and not much larger in size than the sepals. The stamens are united at the base into bundles. The fruits are dry.[1] [2]

Habitat

Hypericum humifusum grows on heaths, dry banks, bare land at the edge of tracks and light woodland.[1] It is found in Western Europe [3] and throughout the British Isles where it flowers from May to September.[4]

Notes and References

  1. McKlintock, D. and R. S. R. Fitter. The Pocket Guide to Wild Flowers. (1956) Collins, London. P29.
  2. http://www.plant-identification.co.uk/skye/guttiferae/hypericum-humifusum.html Trailing St John's Wort
  3. http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/cgi-bin/nph-readbtree.pl/dataset=/parent=/filename=feout/SID=5924.1310671013?goto=91&GENUS_XREF=Hypericum Hypericum humifusum
  4. http://bsbi.org/maps?taxonid=2cd4p9h.vwn Trailing St John's Wort