Hypericum suffruticosum

Hypericum suffruticosum, known as pineland St. John's-wort,^[3][4] is a species of flowering plant in the St. John's wort family, Hypericaceae.^[5] It is native to the Southeastern United States.^[6]

Hypericum suffruticosum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Hypericaceae
Genus:	Hypericum
Section:	H. sect. Myriandra
Subsection:	H. subsect. Ascyrum
Species:	H. suffruticosum
Binomial name
Hypericum suffruticosum W.P.Adams & N.Robson[1]
Synonyms[2]
Ascyrum nummularifolium Banks ex Steud. Ascyrum pauciflorum Nutt. Ascyrum pumilum Michx.

Description

Pineland St. John's wort is a small, spreading shrub, only 5 to 20 cm (2.0 to 7.9 in) tall, with many-branched stems. The stems are 4-lined when young, exfoliating as it matures, into thin, reddish-brown strips or flakes. The leaves are slightly leathery, 3 to 10 mm (0.12 to 0.39 in) long and 1 to 3 mm (0.039 to 0.118 in) across, sessile or subsessile, with pale undersides. The leaf edge (margin) is flat or slightly recurved.^[5]

A single flower is produced in each inflorescence. Each flower is on a pedicel 5 to 12 mm (0.20 to 0.47 in) long, recurved or reflexed at maturity. Each flower is 10 to 15 mm (0.39 to 0.59 in) in diameter with 4 sepals, 4 pale yellow petals, and approximately 30 stamens. The ovary is two parted.^[5]

Distribution and habitat

Hypericum suffruticosum occurs in the Atlantic coastal plain in the southeastern United States, in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina.^[6] Its habitat includes dry, open, sandy areas such as pine flatwoods and savannas.^[6][4]