Species: Perforate St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Family: St John's Worts (HYPERICACEAE)
Category: Flowering Plants
Location: NW
A. Flowering Plants
More extensive information on flowering plants can be found in a separate blog post.
B. St John's Worts (HYPERICACEAE)
The St John's Worts have opposite, untoothed, resinous dotted leaves, which may be dotted with tiny black or translucent spots. The flowers are radially symmetrical. St John's Wort tea or tincture is taken for depression, anxiety, menstrual tension, and used externally to treat cuts and burns. This family of flowers was used as symbolic of the sun, as were other yellow flowers, and they protected against demons, faeries, witchcraft, poisons, and poisonous animal bites, especially at midsummer. They could also predict the future if picked and kept indoors after making a wish. If still fresh next morning the wish would come true.
C. Perforate St John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
The leaves of this native plant are oval to linear with translucent dots. There are two raised lines down the stem. The petals are dotted black, especially on the margins. This plant flowers from July.
Images
Perforate St John's Wort
The petals of Perforate St John's Wort are dotted black, especially on the margins.
Perforate St John's Wort
The translucent dots on the leaves of Perforate St John's Wort are clearly visible in this photograph.
Perforate St John's Wort
The sepals (underneath the petals of the flower) of Perforate St John's Wort are significantly shorter than the petals themselves.
Perforate St John's Wort
There are two raised lines down the stems of Perforate St John's Wort.
Perforate St John's Wort
Perforate St John's Wort is a perennial that grows to 90cms in height.
