Hypericum suffruticosum

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Hypericum suffruticosum
Hypericum suffruticosum Gil.jpg
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
HYPE SUFF dist.jpg
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.” [1]

"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." [1]

Distribution

Ecology

Habitat

H. suffruticosum occurs in longleaf pine flatwoods, as well as disturbed areas like roadsides. [2] It is found in dry sandy soil most commonly. [2] Associated species include Pinus palutris. [2]

Phenology

H. suffruticosum has been observed flowering from January to September and also in November with peak inflorescence in April. [2][3]

Seed dispersal

This species is thought to be dispersed by gravity. [4]

Fire ecology

This species has been found in habitat that is often maintained by frequent fire. [2]

Conservation and management

Cultivation and restoration

Photo Gallery

References and notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 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.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 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.
  3. 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: 12 DEC 2016
  4. Kirkman, L. Katherine. Unpublished database of seed dispersal mode of plants found in Coastal Plain longleaf pine-grasslands of the Jones Ecological Research Center, Georgia.