Flora Pittsburghensis

Category: Hypericaceae

  • St.-John’s-Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

    Hypericum perforatum

    A cheerful yellow flower that pops up in vacant lots and poor soil; here it was growing between the stones of the railroad viaduct that runs along the back of the South Side. As an herbal remedy for depression, St.-John’s-Wort seems to be one of the few herbal remedies actually supported by good science; unfortunately, the unregulated state of herbal medicines in the United States means that pills labeled “St.-John’s-Wort” may not contain the amount indicated on the label, or any at all.

    For a fuller description and more pictures, see the Hypericum perforatum reference page.

    St.-John’s-Wort

  • St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

    The thick wad of stamens in the middle of the flower is characteristic of St. John’s Worts, most of which also have bright yellow flowers. These plants were growing in a clearing in Highland Park, where they were blooming in the middle of June.

    Gray describes the genus and the species:

    HYPERICUM [Tourn.] L. ST. JOHN’S-WORT. Sepals 5, usually subequal. Petals 5, oblique, convolute in the bud (except in 6). Stamens frequently united or clustered in 3-5 parcels; no interposed glands. Pod 1-celled or 3-5-celled. Seeds usually cylindrical. Herbs or shrubs, with cymose yellow, flesh-colored, or purplish flowers. (An ancient Greek name of obscure meaning.)

    H. perforatum L. (COMMON S.) Stem much branched and corymbed, somewhat 2-edged, producing runners from the base; leaves elliptic- or linear-oblong, with pellucid dots; petals deep yellow, black-dotted along the margin, twice the length of the lanceolate acute sepals; flowers numerous, in open leafy cymes. Fields, etc. June-Sept. A pernicious weed, difficult to extirpate; juice very acrid. (Nat. from Eu.)

  • St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

    These cheerful flowers love to grow in the poorest soil; this plant grew on an eroded clay bank near Cranberry, where it was blooming in the middle of June. The thick wad of stamens in the middle of the flower is characteristic of St. John’s Worts, most of which also have bright yellow flowers.

    Gray describes the genus and the species:

    HYPERICUM [Tourn.] L. ST. JOHN’S-WORT
    Sepals 5, usually subequal. Petals 5, oblique, convolute in the bud (except in 6). Stamens frequently united or clustered in 3-5 parcels; no interposed glands. Pod 1-celled or 3-5-celled. Seeds usually cylindrical. Herbs or shrubs, with cymose yellow, flesh-colored, or purplish flowers. (An ancient Greek name of obscure meaning.)

    H. perforatum L. (COMMONS.) Stem much branched and corymbed, somewhat 2-edged, producing runners from the base; leaves elliptic- or linear-oblong, with pellucid dots; petals deep yellow, black-dotted along the margin, twice the length of the lanceolate acute sepals; flowers numerous, in open leafy cymes. Fields, etc. June-Sept. A pernicious weed, difficult to extirpate; juice very acrid. (Nat. from Eu.)