gentian-leaved St. John's-wort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• gentian-leaved St. John's-wort
• orange-grass
• pineweed

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sarothra gentianoides
• Hypericum nudicaule
• Brathys gentianoides
• Sarothra cuneifolia

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Under the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls into the order Malpighiales and is a member of the family Hypericaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic placement is within the genus Hypericum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution that spans across multiple continents. In Southwestern Europe, its presence is specifically noted within the borders of France. Moving across the Atlantic, it can be found in Eastern Canada within the provinces of Nova Scotia, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island. Additionally, the species extends its range into North-Central U.S.A., specifically inhabiting Illinois. This wide-ranging habitat demonstrates the plant's ability to adapt to various temperate environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hypericum gentianoides is characterized by its adaptation to coastal environments, specifically within the Restinga habitat. This plant thrives in these specialized sandy coastal ecosystems, occupying a distinct altitudinal gradient that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and reaches a maximum elevation of 600 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

600 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Restinga

Life history

The life history of Hypericum gentianoides is characterized by a variable lifecycle that can manifest as an annual, biennial, or perennial depending on environmental conditions and resource availability. Throughout its development, the plant undergoes distinct seasonal phases, beginning with germination from seeds that often require specific temperature fluctuations to break dormancy. As it progresses through its growth stages, the plant establishes its vegetative structure, eventually transitioning into a reproductive phase marked by the emergence of its characteristic yellow flowers. The ability to shift between different lifecycle durations allows the species to adapt to fluctuating habitats, ensuring survival by either completing its reproductive cycle quickly in unstable environments or establishing long-term presence through perennial growth in more stable niches.

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Hypericum gentianoides is characterized by a growth form as a non-woody herb, specifically categorized as a forb. It functions as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber, possessing neither liana nor vine characteristics, and it is an independent organism that does not act as a parasite. The plant is strictly terrestrial in its habitat, lacking any aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of physical stature, it typically reaches an average plant height of approximately 0.61 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.61 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hypericum gentianoides is characterized by the production of specialized seeds that play a critical role in its dispersal and establishment within its habitat. Quantitative analysis of its reproductive output reveals a highly uniform seed morphology, with a measured seed mass that remains consistent across individual specimens. Specifically, the seed mass exhibits a mean value of 4e-05 g, a value that is mirrored by both the maximum and minimum recorded seed masses, which are also 4e-05 g. This lack of variance in seed mass suggests a highly stabilized reproductive strategy, ensuring that each seed carries a standardized amount of resources for germination.

Seed mass mean:

4e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Hypericum gentianoides has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include PIB, Phlorisobutyrophenone, phloroglucinol.

PIB

1. Physiologia plantarum

Phlorisobutyrophenone

1. Physiologia plantarum

phloroglucinol

1. Physiologia plantarum