Hypericum suffruticosum

Hypericum suffruticosum
Photo was taken by Gil Nelson
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class:	Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Order:	Theales
Family:	Clusiaceae ⁄ Guttiferae
Genus:	Hypericum
Species:	H. suffruticosum
Binomial name
Hypericum suffruticosum P. Adams & N. Robson
Natural range of Hypericum suffruticosum from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Common name: pineland St. Johnswort

Taxonomic notes

Synonym: Ascyrum pumilum Michaux

Description

Hypericum suffruticosum is a perennial shrub.

“Usually glabrous herbs or shrubs. Leaves usually punctate, simple, opposite, entire, usually sessile or subsessile, exstipulate. Inflorescence basically cymose; flowers perfect, regular, bracteates, subsessile or short-pedicellate, sepals 2, 4, or 5, persistent; petals 4 or 5, usually marcescent, yellow or pink; stamens 5-numerous, separate or connate basally forming 3-5 clusters or fascicles, filaments usually persistent; carpels 2-5, stigmas and styles separate or fused, ovary superior, 1-locular or partly or wholly 2-5 locular, placentation axile or parietal. Capsules basically ovoid, longitudinally dehiscent, styles usually persistent; seeds numerous, lustrous, areolate, cylindric or oblong. In general our species form a polymorphic complex with many intergrading taxa.” – Radford et al 1964

"Small, usually decumbent shrub, 7-15 cm tall, stems wing-angled. Leaves oblong, elliptic, or slightly obovate, 1-8 mm long, 1-3 mm wide, obtuse, base jointed or notched. Flowers usually solitary, occasionally in cymules; bracts paired, basal; pedicels reflexed, 6-13 mm long. Outer sepals 2, ovate or widely elliptic, 5-9 mm long, 4.5-7 wide, acute, inner sepals usually absent; petals 4, obovate, 5-7 mm long; styles 2, usually separate, ca. 1.5 mm long, ovary 1-locular. Capsules ovoid or ellipsoid, ca. 3 mm long and 2 mm broad; mature seeds not seen." - Radford et al 1964

Ecology

Habitat

H. suffruticosum occurs in longleaf pine flatwoods, as well as disturbed areas like roadsides (FSU Herbarium). It is found in dry sandy soil most commonly (FSU Herbarium). Associated species include Pinus palutris (FSU Herbarium).

Phenology

Flowering has been observed in March and August (FSU Herbarium).

Seed dispersal

According to Kay Kirkman, a plant ecologist, this species disperses by gravity.

Fire ecology

This species has been found in habitat that is often maintained by frequent fire (FSU Herbarium).

References and notes

Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2014. Collectors: R. F. Doren, Leon Neel, Robert K. Godfrey, R. Komarek, and Steve L. Orzell. States and Counties: Florida: Liberty and Nassau. Georgia: Baker and Thomas.

Radford, Albert E., Harry E. Ahles, and C. Ritchie Bell. Manual of the Vascular Flora of the Carolinas. 1964, 1968. The University of North Carolina Press. 709-710. Print.