Hypericum L.

Volume IV (1988) - Flora of New Zealand Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons

HYPERICUM L.

Deciduous or evergreen herbs, often with annual stems, or shrubs; stems often angular. Lvs opposite or whorled, usually entire, often dotted with glands. Fls in terminal panicles or cymes, sometimes solitary, sometimes axillary, ⚥, occasionally distylous. Sepals (4)-5, often unequal. Petals (4)-5, nearly always yellow, often oblique, contorted in bud. Stamens usually numerous, sometimes few, usually connate at base in 3 or 5 (rarely 4) bundles, sometimes antipetalous. Ovary 1-5-locular, with parietal or axile placentation, if 1-locular then with 3-5 parietal placentae. Styles (2)-3-5, free or connate. Fr. usually a septicidal capsule, more rarely baccate.

Key

Shrubs or a rhizomatous subshrub; styles 5; mature capsules dry

Herbs or shrubs; styles 3; mature capsules dry or ± fleshy and berry-like

Stems 4-angled; rhizomes strong and conspicuous; corolla 7-9 cm diam.

2. *calycinum

Stems and branches terete or flattened with 2, ± raised edges; rhizomes 0; corolla 4-7 cm diam.

Sepals obtuse or rounded; stamens in bundles of 50-70, ?-1/2 length of petals

3. *henryi

Sepals distinctly acute; stamens in bundles of 40-50, ?-3/4 length of petals

6. *kouytchense

Shrubs or subshrubs, evergreen or semi-evergreen; petals caducous; fr. ± succulent, indehiscent or dehiscent

Herbs, often woody at base, deciduous apart from basal rosettes; petals persistent at least for a time after anthesis; fr. always dry and dehiscent

Petals = or slightly > sepals; styles 1/2 length of ovary; fr. indehiscent, red, becoming black

1. *androsaemum

Petals much > sepals; styles c. 1.5-2× ovary; fr. ± indehiscent, remaining red

5. * × inodorum

Lvs 1-3 mm long

13. japonicum

Lvs > 3 mm long

Stems 4-angled, 4-lined, or 4-winged

Stems terete or 2-lined

Stems conspicuously 4-winged, erect, to 1 m tall, with scattered black glands

11. *tetrapterum

Stems 4-angled, not winged, erect or prostrate, to 50 cm tall, without black glands

Stems prostrate, ascending towards tips, often rooting and forming mats; lf margins flat or undulate; corolla usually 5-8 mm diam.; petals = or a little > than sepals

13. japonicum

Stems erect, with branches from base or above middle; lf margins flat or revolute; corolla 2-16 mm diam.; petals < or > sepals

Stems stiff, arising from a wiry, woody stock, branching from base, not branched above; lf margins usually revolute; fls 8-16 mm diam.; plant of fairly dry places, especially modified tussock grassland

12. gramineum

Stems not from woody stock, branched only above the middle; lf margins ± flat; fls 3-4 mm diam.; plant of swampy places

8. *mutilum

Stems prostrate or decumbent; sepals unequal (2 broad, 3 narrow)

4. *humifusum

Stems erect; sepals equal or subequal

Stems 2-lined; sepals with or without scattered and irregular black glands

9. *perforatum

Stems terete or nearly so; sepals evenly fringed with black glands, at least in upper 1/2

Lvs 2-5 cm long, with very short hairs below; sepals serrate, teeth all prominently black-glandular

7. *montanum

Lvs 0.4-2 cm long, glabrous below; sepals entire, upper 1/2 with small black ciliate glands

10. *pulchrum

c. 400 spp., temperate and subtropical regions. Native spp. 2, naturalised 10 and 1 hybrid.

In addition to the spp. described below, there are a number cultivated in N.Z., most as rock garden plants. The petals of Hypericum spp. are liable to shrink greatly when dried unless precautions are taken.

Fig. 54. Fls of Hypericum. A H. calycinum; B H. × inodorum; C H. perforatum; D H. henryi. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X5E]

Fig. 55. Fleshy frs in Hypericum. A H. androsaemum; B H. × inodorum. © All rights reserved. [Image: 4X5F]

Hypericum L.

Key

Volume contents

Share