Trailing St John's-wort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Trailing St John's-wort
• Trailing St. John's-Wort
• Trailing Saint John's Wort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hypericum humifusum subsp. liottardii
• Hypericum humifusum var. liottardii
• Hypericum humifusum var. losae
• Holosepalum humifusum
• Hypericum humifusum var. australe
• Hypericum humifusum var. calycinum
• Hypericum liottardii
• Hypericum losae
• Hypericum decumbens
• Hypericum humifusum subvar. adscendens
• Hypericum humifusum var. ambiguum
• Hypericum humifusum proles liottardii
• Hypericum humifusum var. magnum
• Hypericum humifusum var. majus
• Hypericum humifusum var. australe
• Hypericum humifusum f. crassum
• Hypericum humifusum var. decumbens
• Hypericum humifusum f. eglandulosum
• Hypericum humifusum var. glandulosum
• Hypericum humifusum f. laxum
• Hypericum humifusum var. nanum
• Hypericum humifusum var. pumilum
• Hypericum humifusum var. radicans
• Hypericum exiguum

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 follows the order Malpighiales and is a member of the family Hypericaceae. Ultimately, it is categorized under the genus Hypericum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical range across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Denmark, Great Britain, and Ireland. It can also be found further north within the borders of Sweden. Additionally, the distribution extends into Middle Europe, specifically within Austria. Together, these locations define the known habitat of Hypericum humifusum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hypericum humifusum is characterized by its preference for disturbed and open landscapes, specifically thriving in dumps, meadows, and old fields. This species occupies a diverse altitudinal gradient, establishing itself at elevations ranging from a minimum of 100 m AMSL to a maximum of 1000 m AMSL. Its tendency to colonize such habitats suggests an ecological niche suited to transitional or disturbed environments where sunlight availability is high and competition from dense forest canopies is minimal.

Elevational range max:

1000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

100 m AMSL

Habitat :

dump, meadows, old fields

Life history

The life history of Hypericum humifusum is characterized by its existence as a perennial plant, ensuring its presence across multiple growing seasons. It exhibits a dual life form classification, functioning both as a chamaemphyte and a hemicryptophyte, which dictates its survival strategies and growth patterns relative to the ground surface. Throughout its development, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage to facilitate continuous photosynthetic activity.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hypericum humifusum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. This terrestrial plant exhibits an ascending shoot orientation and is categorized as a self-supporting organism rather than a climber or vine. As an independent species, it does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant maintains a relatively low stature, with a mean height of approximately 0.1305 m, though individual specimens may vary in height from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 0.3 m. Furthermore, its shoot length is documented to range from a minimum of 5 cm to a maximum of 30 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.3 m

Plant height mean:

0.1305 m

Plant height min:

0.03 m

Shoot length max:

30 cm

Shoot length min:

5 cm

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hypericum humifusum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing standard carbon fixation processes typical of many temperate species. The plant is non-carnivorous and does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on soil nutrients for its metabolic requirements. Its foliar morphology is defined by lanceolate leaves that exhibit significant dimensional variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm, while leaf widths vary between 0.2 cm and 1 cm, resulting in a mean leaf width of 0.4 cm. These dimensions contribute to a mean leaf size of approximately 0.42875 cm². Furthermore, the plant demonstrates a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 227.55 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological strategy for light interception and resource allocation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

lanceolate

Leaf length max:

2.5 cm

Leaf length min:

0.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

0.42875 cm²

Leaf width max:

1 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.4 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

227.55 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hypericum humifusum is primarily achieved through sexual means, utilizing bisexual flowers that facilitate pollination via biotic vectors. The flowering period typically commences in June and extends through September, featuring yellow flowers that range in length from 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.9 cm. Pollination is driven by insects, specifically including flies, and the plant is capable of self-fertilization. Following successful pollination, the plant develops dry, dehiscent capsules as its fruit type, with fruit lengths ranging from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a mean of 0.8 cm (reaching a maximum of 0.7 cm in specific measurements). These capsules contain a significant quantity of seeds, with an estimated 101 to 1000 seeds per fruit. The seeds are minute, characterized by a mean length of 0.5 mm (ranging from 0.5 mm to 0.6 mm) and a consistent volume of 0.032 mm³. The seed mass is extremely low, with a mean of approximately 4.0567e-05 g, a minimum of 2e-05 g, and a maximum of 5e-05 g. Once mature, the seeds are dispersed through an anemochorous syndrome, utilizing wind for distribution. No asexual reproduction methods were noted for this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flower colour :

yellow

Flower length max:

0.9 cm

Flower length min:

0.4 cm

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Sep

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.8 cm

Fruit length min:

0.4 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

fly

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length max:

0.6 mm

Seed length mean:

0.5 mm

Seed mass max:

5e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

4.05666666666667e-05 g

Seed mass min:

2e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.032 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hypericum humifusum has 1 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf.

Leaf

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie
2. Annals of hepatology

Chemicals

Hypericum humifusum has 4 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Gallic acid, Steroids, Tannins.

Flavonoids

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Gallic acid

1. Annals of hepatology

Steroids

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Tannins

1. Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie

Medicinal Uses

Hypericum humifusum has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include oxidative stress.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations