imperforate St John's-wort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• dotted St. John's-wort
• imperforate St. John's-wort
• spotted St. John's-wort
• Imperforate St John's-wort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hypericum quadrangulum var. maculatum
• Hypericum quadrangulum subsp. maculatum

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Malpighiales. Within the family Hypericaceae, it is categorized under the genus Hypericum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions in Northern Europe. It can be found growing within the borders of Denmark. Its presence is also documented in the territories of Finland and the Faroe Islands. Additionally, the species is widely distributed throughout Great Britain. Finally, its geographical range extends to include the island of Ireland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Hypericum maculatum is characterized by its classification as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural adaptation to environmental conditions and seasonal changes, it functions as a hemicryptophyte, a life form where the perennating buds are located at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or minimal soil cover. This specific growth habit, consistent across its life form designations as a hemicryptophyte, enables the species to withstand varying climatic stresses while maintaining its ability to regenerate annually from its protected buds.

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hypericum maculatum is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a self-supporting plant that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, and it maintains an independent existence as it is not a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant is terrestrial in its habitat and exhibits a stature that typically ranges from a minimum height of 0.2 m to a maximum height of 0.8 m, with an average plant height of approximately 0.398 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.8 m

Plant height mean:

0.398 m

Plant height min:

0.2 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hypericum maculatum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency in various environmental conditions. The plant exhibits a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, relying on traditional soil-based nutrient uptake rather than the capture of prey. Morphological physiological data indicates a mean leaf size of 7.31 cm², reflecting its structural approach to light interception. Furthermore, it possesses a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 249.83 cm²/g, a value that provides insight into its leaf thickness and the relationship between its photosynthetic capacity and leaf mass density.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf size mean:

7.31 cm²

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

249.83 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hypericum maculatum is characterized by a specific flowering phenology and specialized biological mechanisms for pollination and seed dispersal. The plant typically enters its flowering period in July and concludes in August. During this time, the reproductive process relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects to facilitate fertilization. Although it employs these insect vectors, self-fertilization is also present within the species. Following successful fertilization, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule. This capsule is dehiscence-based, meaning it opens at maturity to release its contents. The resulting seeds are notably small, with a minimum mass of 1e-05 g, a maximum mass of 8e-05 g, and a mean seed mass of 8.8e-05 g. For the spread of the next generation, Hypericum maculatum utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind to transport its lightweight seeds away from the parent plant.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

8e-05 g

Seed mass mean:

8.8e-05 g

Seed mass min:

1e-05 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Hypericum maculatum has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Hyperoside, Isoquercitrin, RUTIN, hypericin, pseudohypericin.

Hyperoside

1. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises

Isoquercitrin

1. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises

RUTIN

1. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises

hypericin

1. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises

pseudohypericin

1. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises