Aaron's beard

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• creeping St. John's-wort
• rose-of-Sharon
• Creeping St. John's Wort
• Aaron's-beard

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Eremanthe venosa
• Eremanthe calycina
• Ascyrum calycinum
• Hypericum calycinum var. acutifolium
• Hypericum calycinum f. luteum
• Androsaemum calycinum
• Norysca calycina
• Norysca venosa
• Hypericum venosum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, Hypericum calycinum, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malpighiales and the family Hypericaceae. Finally, it is situated within the genus Hypericum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the European continent. In Northern Europe, its presence is noted in both Great Britain and Ireland. Moving into Middle Europe, the species can be found growing within Germany. Its range extends further south into Southwestern Europe, specifically within the borders of France. Finally, the distribution reaches into Southeastern Europe, where it is documented in Bulgaria.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hypericum calycinum is primarily defined by its preference for lowland environments, where it establishes itself within specific topographical and climatic niches. In these low-lying regions, the species typically thrives in open, sunny habitats such as grasslands, rocky slopes, and coastal scrublands, where it can access sufficient solar radiation for its growth cycle. It is well-adapted to well-drained soils, often colonizing areas with sandy or gravelly substrates that prevent water stagnation while allowing for moderate moisture retention. The plant's distribution within these lowland zones is often influenced by the availability of light and its ability to compete with surrounding herbaceous vegetation, frequently occupying disturbed sites or edge habitats where sunlight penetration is maximal.

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Hypericum calycinum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural development and growth habit, it exhibits a dual classification involving phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms, reflecting its ability to maintain visible stem structures of varying heights. Furthermore, the species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hypericum calycinum is characterized by a woody, shrub-like growth form that functions as a self-supporting plant. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, lacking any parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variation in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.2 m to a maximum of 2 m, with an average height of approximately 0.38 m. As a self-supporting woody shrub, it does not exhibit climbing or epiphytic behaviors, maintaining a stable terrestrial presence.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

0.38 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hypericum calycinum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's foliar morphology exhibits significant variation, with leaf widths ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 4 cm, while the mean leaf width is recorded at 0.2 cm. In terms of leaf dimensions, the maximum leaf length reaches 0.7 cm, and the average leaf size is approximately 16.41 cm². Furthermore, the plant maintains a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 115 cm²/g, reflecting the structural investment and resource allocation within its leaf tissues.

Leaf length max:

0.7 cm

Leaf size mean:

16.41 cm²

Leaf width max:

4 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.2 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

115 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hypericum calycinum is primarily driven by sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is documented as absent in this species. The flowering period is notably extensive and variable, beginning as early as December and continuing through July. Once pollination is successful, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule, which is characterized by a dehiscence mechanism. These capsules typically reach a mean fruit length of 0.9 cm. The seeds produced are relatively uniform in size, with a consistent mean seed length of 2 mm (ranging from a minimum of 2 mm to a maximum of 2 mm) and a mean seed mass of 0.00045 g, with values fluctuating between a minimum of 3e-04 g and a maximum of 6e-04 g. Regarding the dispersal of these seeds, the plant exhibits an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, though it also shows characteristics of being anthropochorous.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flowering time :

Dec

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit length mean:

0.9 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed length mean:

2 mm

Seed mass max:

6e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00045 g

Seed mass min:

3e-04 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Hypericum calycinum has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include XANTHONE, benzoic acid, hyperforin.

XANTHONE

1. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology

benzoic acid

1. The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology

hyperforin

1. Phytochemistry

Activities

Hypericum calycinum has 1 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidepressant.

Antidepressant

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology

Conditions

Hypericum calycinum has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include depression.

Depression

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology
2. Pharmacopsychiatry

Preparations

Hypericum calycinum has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include extracts.

Extracts

1. Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology