Hooker's St. John's Wort

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hypericum patulum subsp. hookerianum
• Norysca hookeriana
• Hypericum garrettii

Regional and Traditional Names

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. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Malpighiales and the family Hypericaceae. Finally, it is identified by 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. In China, it is specifically found growing within the high-altitude areas of Tibet. Its presence extends into the Indian Subcontinent, where it is documented in India and the state of Assam. Furthermore, the species is located throughout the East Himalaya region. Finally, its range encompasses the territory of Bangladesh, marking its widespread occurrence in these diverse habitats.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hypericum hookerianum is characterized by its distribution across significant altitudinal gradients, primarily inhabiting montane and subalpine environments. This species thrives within a specific vertical niche, exhibiting an elevational range that spans from a minimum of 1,800 m AMSL to a maximum of 3,400 m AMSL. Throughout its natural habitat, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 2,950 m AMSL, indicating a preference for high-altitude ecosystems where it can adapt to the unique climatic conditions, such as lower temperatures and varying solar radiation, typical of these mountain ranges.

Elevational range max:

3400 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2950 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1800 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Hypericum hookerianum is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. Throughout its life cycle, the plant establishes a robust presence within its habitat, navigating the transition from initial establishment to maturity over several years. As a perennial, it does not rely on the rapid, single-season reproductive strategies seen in annuals or biennials; instead, it invests energy into long-term survival and sustained growth. This enduring nature enables the species to undergo repeated cycles of vegetative development and flowering, ensuring a continuous contribution to its population density and ecological stability within its native environment.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hypericum hookerianum is characterized by a woody, shrubby growth form that functions as a self-supporting plant rather than a liana or vine. It is a terrestrial species that grows independently, lacking any parasitic or epiphytic tendencies. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 2.1 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 1.475 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2.1 m

Plant height mean:

1.475 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological characteristics of Hypericum hookerianum are heavily defined by its foliar morphology, which plays a critical role in its photosynthetic capacity and resource management. The leaves exhibit significant dimensional variability, with a mean leaf length of 5.15 cm and a minimum length of 2.5 cm, reaching a maximum length of 7.8 cm. This longitudinal variation is complemented by a dynamic leaf width, which maintains a mean of 2.1 cm, ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 3.2 cm. These morphological fluctuations in leaf surface area suggest an adaptive physiological strategy to optimize light interception and gas exchange within its specific ecological niche.

Leaf length max:

7.8 cm

Leaf length mean:

5.15 cm

Leaf length min:

2.5 cm

Leaf width max:

3.2 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.1 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hypericum hookerianum is characterized by its distinct floral and fruiting structures, beginning with an inflorescence that typically ranges in length from 0.003 m to a maximum of 0.016 m. The individual flowers produced are relatively large, with lengths measuring between a minimum of 3 cm and a maximum of 6 cm. Following pollination, the plant develops fruit that vary significantly in dimension; the fruit length ranges from a minimum of 0.9 cm to a maximum of 1.7 cm, with an average length of approximately 1.3 cm. In terms of diameter, the fruit width fluctuates between a minimum of 0.7 cm and a maximum of 1.2 cm, maintaining a mean width of 0.95 cm.

Flower length max:

6 cm

Flower length min:

3 cm

Fruit length max:

1.7 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.3 cm

Fruit length min:

0.9 cm

Fruit width max:

1.2 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.95 cm

Fruit width min:

0.7 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.016 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.003 m

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hypericum hookerianum has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)
2. Fitoterapia

Stem

1. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)
2. Fitoterapia

Chemicals

Hypericum hookerianum has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 10H-1,3-Dioxolo[4,5-b]xanthen-10-one, 2,3-Dimethoxyxanthone, 3,4,5-trihydroxyxanthone, 3,4-dihydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone, 3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyxanthone.

10H-1,3-Dioxolo[4,5-b]xanthen-10-one

1. Fitoterapia

2,3-Dimethoxyxanthone

1. Fitoterapia

3,4,5-trihydroxyxanthone

1. Fitoterapia

3,4-dihydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone

1. Fitoterapia

3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyxanthone

1. Fitoterapia

3,5-Dihydroxy-1-methoxyxanthone

1. Fitoterapia

3-Hydroxy-2-methoxyxanthone

1. Fitoterapia

3-acetylbetulinic acid

1. Fitoterapia

Hypercalin C

1. Fitoterapia

PPAPS

1. Fitoterapia

Activities

Hypericum hookerianum has 1 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antipyretic.

Antipyretic

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Conditions

Hypericum hookerianum has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include HSV-1, tensile strength, wound.

Hsv-1

1. The Indian journal of medical research

Tensile strength

1. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)

Wound

1. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)

Preparations

Hypericum hookerianum has 9 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Methanol extracts of the leaves, Methanol extracts of the stems, crude methanol extract, dried extract of the leaves, dried extract of the stems.

Methanol extracts of the leaves

1. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)

Methanol extracts of the stems

1. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)

Crude methanol extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Dried extract of the leaves

1. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)

Dried extract of the stems

1. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)

Extract ointment

1. Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)

Folecitin

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Methanol extract

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

Plant extracts

1. The Indian journal of medical research