Forrest's Tutsan

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Forrest's Tutsan
• St. John's-Wort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hypericum patulum f. forrestii
• Hypericum patulum var. forrestii

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Hypericum forrestii, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Malpighiales. It is a member of the Hypericaceae family and falls under the genus Hypericum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct regions. In Northern Europe, its presence can be documented within Great Britain and Ireland. Moving toward Asia, it is found in the South-Central regions of China. Additionally, its range extends into Indo-China, specifically within Myanmar. These varied locations highlight the wide-reaching habitat of Hypericum forrestii.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hypericum forrestii is defined by its adaptation to high-altitude montane environments, where it occupies a broad vertical distribution across diverse mountain landscapes. This species thrives within a significant elevational gradient, ranging from a minimum altitude of 1500 m AMSL to a maximum peak of 4400 m AMSL. Throughout its habitat, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 2400 m AMSL, positioning it primarily within subalpine and alpine ecological zones. This wide altitudinal tolerance suggests a high degree of resilience to varying climatic conditions, including fluctuating temperatures and varying levels of solar radiation characteristic of high-elevation ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

4400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2400 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1500 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Hypericum forrestii is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. As a perennial, it establishes a stable presence within its ecosystem, focusing its energy on long-term survival and the development of robust root systems that support repeated reproductive efforts. This lifecycle enables the plant to navigate seasonal environmental shifts, storing nutrients to facilitate regrowth after periods of dormancy. Through its extended lifespan, Hypericum forrestii can contribute consistently to its local population, utilizing its perennial nature to maintain ecological stability and ensure continued seed production over successive years.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hypericum forrestii is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub, appearing as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or epiphyte. It is a terrestrial species that functions as an independent organism, lacking parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in size, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 1.5 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.9 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.9 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hypericum forrestii is characterized by distinct morphological dimensions of its foliage, which play a critical role in its photosynthetic capacity and resource management. The leaves exhibit significant variability in size, with a recorded minimum length of 2 cm and a mean length of 3.65 cm, reaching a maximum longitudinal extent of 5.3 cm. Complementing this longitudinal growth, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.9 cm and a maximum of 3.2 cm, indicating a range of leaf shapes that may adapt to specific light interception requirements. These quantitative variations in leaf surface area influence the plant's transpiration rates and its overall metabolic efficiency within its ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

5.3 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.65 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

3.2 cm

Leaf width min:

0.9 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hypericum forrestii is characterized by its distinct flowering and fruiting structures, beginning with an inflorescence that measures between 0.004 m and 0.01 m in length. The individual flowers are substantial, with lengths ranging from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 9 cm. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit that varies in size; the fruit length typically averages 1.5 cm, with a range spanning from 1.2 cm to a maximum of 1.8 cm, while the fruit width averages 1.1 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.8 cm to a maximum of 1.4 cm. The reproductive cycle concludes with the production of seeds, which are quite small, possessing a mean mass of 7.5e-05 g and varying from a minimum of 7e-05 g to a maximum of 8e-05 g.

Flower length max:

9 cm

Flower length min:

8 cm

Fruit length max:

1.8 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.5 cm

Fruit length min:

1.2 cm

Fruit width max:

1.4 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.1 cm

Fruit width min:

0.8 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.01 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.004 m

Seed mass max:

8e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

7.5e-05 g

Seed mass min:

7e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Hypericum forrestii has 1 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hyperin.

Hyperin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials