Flax-leaved St John's-wort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Flax-Leaved St. John's Wort
• Narrow-Leaved St. John's Wort
• Toadflax-Leaved St. John's-Wort
• Toadflax-leaved St John's-wort
• toadflax-leaf St. John's-wort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hypericum linariifolium var. approximatum
• Hypericum linariifolium proles obtusisepalum
• Hypericum linariifolium var. acutisepalum
• Hypericum linariifolium var. montanum
• Hypericum linariifolium var. parviflorum
• Hypericum linariifolium var. punctatum
• Hypericum linariifolium var. radicans
• Hypericum karsianum
• Hypericum humifusum subsp. linariifolium
• Hypericum humifusum var. montanum
• Hypericum humifusum var. approximatum
• Hypericum nubigenum
• Hypericum perplexum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Malpighiales, it is classified under the family Hypericaceae. It is further identified by the genus Hypericum, specifically as the species Hypericum linariifolium.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical distribution spanning several distinct European regions. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented within Great Britain. Moving south, the species can be found throughout Southwestern Europe, specifically in France. Its range continues through the Iberian Peninsula, with notable occurrences in Spain. Finally, the plant extends its reach to the Macaronesian islands, specifically inhabiting Madeira.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hypericum linariifolium is characterized by its presence in lowland habitats, where it adapts to specific environmental conditions within these lower-altitude zones. This species demonstrates a significant vertical distribution capacity, spanning a broad altitudinal gradient that extends to an elevational range maximum of 3400 m AMSL. Such a wide range suggests a high degree of ecological plasticity, allowing the plant to persist in diverse microclimates ranging from warm lowland environments to much harsher, high-altitude alpine or sub-alpine conditions.

Elevational range max:

3400 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Hypericum linariifolium is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. It functions as a chamaephyte, a life form where the majority of the photosynthetic organs are situated close to the soil surface, often protected by seasonal litter or ground cover. This species maintains an evergreen deciduousness, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present throughout various environmental shifts rather than shedding all leaves annually.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hypericum linariifolium is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and subshrub. The plant exhibits significant variability in stature, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.08 m to a maximum of 0.5 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.35 m.

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

subshrub

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Plant height mean:

0.35 m

Plant height min:

0.08 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hypericum linariifolium is characterized by a specialized photosynthetic mechanism and distinct morphological dimensions. This species utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a process typical of many plants in its genus, which involves the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. Structurally, its foliage is remarkably slender, maintaining a highly consistent leaf width that remains constant at a mean, minimum, and maximum of 0.2 cm. The leaves are relatively short in stature, reaching a maximum length of 2 cm. Furthermore, from a nutrient acquisition standpoint, Hypericum linariifolium does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on the uptake of available nitrogen from the surrounding soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes.

Leaf length max:

2 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hypericum linariifolium is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period and a reliance on sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is noted to be absent. The plant's flowering cycle is concentrated in the month of June, with both the flowering start and end points occurring during this time. Following pollination, the plant produces seeds with a highly consistent mass; the mean seed mass is approximately 5.8e-05 g, ranging from a minimum of 5e-05 g to a maximum of 6e-05 g. Regarding the movement of its offspring, the species exhibits an unspecialized dispersal syndrome, suggesting that its seeds are not strictly adapted to a single method of transport but instead utilize a variety of non-specialized mechanisms to colonize new areas.

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flowering time :

Jun

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

6e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

5.8e-05 g

Seed mass min:

5e-05 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Hypericum linariifolium has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include HEXANE, acetone, polyphenols.

HEXANE

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

acetone

1. BMC complementary and alternative medicine

polyphenols

1. PloS one

Activities

Hypericum linariifolium has 4 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Anticancer, Antioxidant, Antiviral.

Antibacterial

1. PloS one

Anticancer

1. PloS one

Antioxidant

1. PloS one

Antiviral

1. PloS one

Preparations