Henry's St John's-wort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Henry's St John's-wort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. As a member of the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales, it is further categorized into the family Hypericaceae. Finally, it is placed within the genus Hypericum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. Within China, it is specifically located in the South-Central territories. Its presence extends into the Indo-China region, where it can be found in Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Additionally, the species is distributed within Malesia, specifically on the island of Sumatera. Together, these locations highlight the diverse habitats where the species thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hypericum henryi is characterized by its presence in lowland habitats, where it thrives within specific altitudinal constraints. This species is predominantly found across a montane elevational range that begins at a minimum of 1300 m AMSL and extends to a maximum altitude of 2440 m AMSL. Throughout its natural distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1985 m AMSL, indicating a preference for mid-to-high altitude environments within its ecological niche.

Elevational range max:

2440 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1985 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1300 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Hypericum henryi is characterized by its classification as a perennial, meaning it lives for more than two years and typically undergoes seasonal cycles of growth and dormancy. As a perennial species, it establishes a persistent root system that allows it to regrow each growing season, providing stability and long-term presence in its natural habitat. Throughout its life cycle, the plant transitions through vegetative stages, where it develops its characteristic foliage, to reproductive stages, where it produces flowers to facilitate genetic dispersal. This perennial nature ensures that the plant can withstand various environmental fluctuations, re-emerging from its rootstock to repeat its developmental stages annually.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hypericum henryi is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub. As a self-supporting plant, it does not rely on climbing structures, maintaining a sturdy and upright habit. The stature of the plant varies significantly depending on environmental conditions, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 3.5 m, though it maintains an average plant height of approximately 1.75 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

3.5 m

Plant height mean:

1.75 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hypericum henryi is characterized by a specific morphological structure in its foliage, which plays a vital role in its metabolic and photosynthetic processes. The leaf dimensions exhibit significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 7 cm, maintaining a mean length of approximately 2.25 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a functional range between a minimum of 0.6 cm and a maximum of 2 cm, resulting in a mean width of 2 cm. This variation in leaf surface area and dimensions influences the plant's capacity for transpiration and light interception, essential for its physiological efficiency and overall growth patterns.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length mean:

2.25 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

2 cm

Leaf width min:

0.6 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hypericum henryi is characterized by a distinct flowering and fruiting morphology supported by a versatile dispersal strategy. The plant produces flowers that vary in length, ranging from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3.5 cm. Following pollination, the development of the fruit is marked by specific dimensions; the fruits typically measure an average of 1.3 cm in length (with a range between 1 cm and 1.4 cm) and an average width of 0.9 cm (ranging from a minimum of 0.8 cm to a maximum of 1 cm). The seeds produced are notably fine, maintaining a consistent mass of approximately 8e-05 g, with no recorded variation between the minimum and maximum seed mass. Regarding the dissemination of offspring, the species exhibits an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, utilizing a wide array of vectors including anemochory (wind), zoochory (animals), autochory (self-dispersal), and hydrochory (water), suggesting a highly adaptable reproductive capability across various environmental conditions.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flower length max:

3.5 cm

Flower length min:

2 cm

Fruit length max:

1.4 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.3 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.9 cm

Fruit width min:

0.8 cm

Seed mass mean:

8e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hypericum henryi has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include root.

Root

1. European journal of medicinal chemistry

Chemicals

Hypericum henryi has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 1,2,5-Trihydroxyxanthone, Kielcorin.

1,2,5-Trihydroxyxanthone

1. Phytochemistry

Kielcorin

1. Phytochemistry

Conditions

Hypericum henryi has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include cancer, colon cancer, tumor.

Cancer

1. Natural products and bioprospecting

Colon cancer

1. European journal of medicinal chemistry

Tumor

1. Natural products and bioprospecting

Preparations

Hypericum henryi has 1 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include roots.

Roots

1. European journal of medicinal chemistry