Hypericum myrtifolium

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Common name: Myrtle-leaf St. John's-wort[1]; Polebark St. John's-wort

Hypericum myrtifolium
Hypericum myrtifolium SEF.jpg
Photo by the Southeastern Flora Plant Database
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta - Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida - Dicots
Order: Theales
Family: Clusiaceae
Genus: Hypericum
Species: H. myrtifolium
Binomial name
Hypericum myrtifolium
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HYPE MYRT DIST.JPG
Natural range of Hypericum myrtifolium from USDA NRCS Plants Database.

Taxonomic Notes

Synonyms: none.[1]

Varieties: none.[1]

Description

H. myrtifolium is a native perennial shrub that is a member of the Clusiaceae family.[2] It is most recognizable by its clasping leaves, which are usually glaucous.[3]

Distribution

H. myrtifolium is a southeastern coastal plain endemic species, found mainly in Florida, but can also be found sparingly in southern Alabama, Gerogia, and Mississippi.[2][4]

Ecology

Habitat

H. myrtifolium is primarily found in habitats surrounding ponds.[4] It is naturally found in fresh-water communities and marshes infrequently.[5] Other natural communities include sandhills and flatwoods.[6] More specifically, H. myrtifolium can be found in dry loamy sand in open pine woodlands, sand pine stands, moist loams of swales in pine woodland, and in shaded swamps.[7] It is listed by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service as a facultative wetland species that is most often found in wetland habitats but can also occasionally be found in non-wetland habitats.[2] As well, it is considered indicative of the peninsula savannas in Florida.[8]

Associated species include Hypericum harperi.[7]

Hypericum myrtifolium is an indicator species for the Peninsula Savannas community type as described in Carr et al. (2010).[9]

Phenology

H. myrtifolium commonly flowers from April until June.[10] It has been observed flowering from May to July as well as October to December.[11][7].

Fire ecology

This species is commonly found in pineland habitats that are fire-dependent.[8]

Conservation and Management

Globally, Hypericum myrtifolium is listed as G4 due to it growing in endangered habitats, and not very common where it is found. It is also considered imperiled in Mississippi.[12]

Cultivation and restoration

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Weakley, A.S. 2015. Flora of the southern and mid-atlantic states. Working Draft of 21 May 2015. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 USDA Plants Database URL: https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=HYMY
  3. Carr, L. G. (1940). "Further notes on coastal floral elements in the bogs of Augusta County, Virginia." Rhodora 42(495): 86-93.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Weakley, A. S. (2015). Flora of the Southern and Mid-Atlantic States. Chapel Hill, NC, University of North Carolina Herbarium.
  5. Hilmon, J. B. (1964). "Plants of the Caloosa Experimental Range " U.S. Forest Service Research Paper SE-12
  6. Platt, W. J., Gregory W. Evans, and Mary M. Davis (1988). "Effects of Fires Season on Flowering of Forbs and Shurbs in Longleaf Pine Forests." Oecologia 76(3): 353-363.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Florida State University Robert K. Godfrey Herbarium database. URL: http://herbarium.bio.fsu.edu. Last accessed: June 2018. Collectors: Loran C. Anderson, Wilson Baker, R. A. Norris, Robert K. Godfrey, R. Komarek, M. Davis, J. M. Kane, Cecil R. Slaughterm and R. Kral. States and counties: Florida: Leon, Wakulla, Duval, and Madison. Georgia: Thomas and Clinch.
  8. 8.0 8.1 Carr, S. C., et al. (2010). "A Vegetation Classification of Fire-Dependent Pinelands of Florida." Castanea 75(2): 153-189.
  9. Carr, S.C., K.M. Robertson, and R.K. Peet. 2010. A vegetation classification of fire-dependent pinelands of Florida. Castanea 75:153-189.
  10. [[1]] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Accessed: May 28, 2019
  11. Nelson, G. PanFlora: Plant data for the eastern United States with emphasis on the Southeastern Coastal Plains, Florida, and the Florida Panhandle. www.gilnelson.com/PanFlora/ Accessed: 22 MAY 2018
  12. [[2]] NatureServe Explorer. Accessed: May 28, 2019