goldencup St. John's wort

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• goldencup St. John's wort

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Hypericum argyi
• Eremanthe patula
• Hypericum hookerianum var. dentatum
• Norysca patula
• Komana patula

Regional and Traditional Names

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. It is further classified within the order Malpighiales and the family Hypericaceae. Finally, its taxonomic identity is defined by the genus Hypericum, specifically the species Hypericum patulum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution that spans across several distinct regions. In Southern Africa, its presence is specifically noted within the KwaZulu-Natal province. Its range extends significantly into China, where it can be found in the South-Central, North-Central, and Southeast regions. Additionally, the species is documented throughout Eastern Asia, specifically in Japan. Together, these locations illustrate a diverse habitat ranging from African provinces to various parts of the Asian continent.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hypericum patulum is defined by its ability to inhabit a broad altitudinal gradient, demonstrating significant adaptability to varying mountain landscapes. This species is found across a wide vertical range, with its distribution extending from a minimum elevation of 450 m AMSL to a maximum peak of 2800 m AMSL. The presence of this plant across such a diverse span suggests a capacity to tolerate diverse microclimates and varying degrees of environmental pressure. On average, the species occupies a mid-elevation niche, with a mean elevational range of 1425 m AMSL, which likely represents its optimal ecological zone where temperature and moisture levels are most conducive to its growth and reproductive success.

Elevational range max:

2800 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1425 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

450 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Hypericum patulum is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, meaning it completes its reproductive cycle over multiple years rather than within a single growing season. As a perennial species, the plant establishes a robust root system that allows it to survive through dormant periods, enabling it to regrow and persist through successive seasons. This longevity allows the plant to invest energy into sustained vegetative growth before eventually allocating resources toward flowering and seed production. Throughout its lifecycle, the plant undergoes seasonal cycles of development, contributing to its stability within its natural habitat and ensuring its long-term presence in the ecosystem.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Hypericum patulum is characterized by a shrubby growth form with a woody structure. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing behavior and functions as an independent organism rather than a parasite. It is a terrestrial species, lacking any epiphytic or aquatic characteristics. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in size, with heights ranging from a minimum of 0.3 m to a maximum of 2 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 0.9 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

0.9 m

Plant height min:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hypericum patulum is characterized by significant morphological variability in its foliar structures, which play a critical role in its metabolic and photosynthetic processes. The leaf dimensions exhibit a wide range of developmental plasticity, with leaf lengths spanning from a minimum of 0.05 cm to a maximum of 6 cm, resulting in a calculated mean leaf length of 3.75 cm. This variation in surface area suggests an adaptive capacity to different light intensities and moisture levels within its habitat. Furthermore, the width of the leaves demonstrates a broad spectrum of expansion, ranging from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 3 cm. These fluctuations in leaf geometry directly influence the plant's gas exchange efficiency and its ability to regulate transpiration through stomatal control.

Leaf length max:

6 cm

Leaf length mean:

3.75 cm

Leaf length min:

0.05 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width min:

0.5 cm

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hypericum patulum is characterized by the production of a dehiscence-type fruit, specifically classified as a capsule. These capsules exhibit consistent morphological dimensions, with a mean fruit length of 1 cm and a mean fruit width of 0.9 cm. The size of the fruit varies within a specific range, featuring a minimum length of 0.9 cm and a maximum length of 1.1 cm, while the width ranges from a minimum of 0.8 cm to a maximum of 1 cm.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Fruit length max:

1.1 cm

Fruit length mean:

1 cm

Fruit length min:

0.9 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

1 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.9 cm

Fruit width min:

0.8 cm

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hypericum patulum has 2 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 flower, fruit.

Flower

1. Pharmaceutica acta Helvetiae

Fruit

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Chemicals

Hypericum patulum has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ALPHA-PINENE, Amentoflavone, BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE, Hyperoside, LONGIFOLENE.

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Amentoflavone

1. Pharmaceutica acta Helvetiae

BETA-CARYOPHYLLENE

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Hyperoside

1. Pharmaceutica acta Helvetiae

LONGIFOLENE

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

PPAP

1. Organic & biomolecular chemistry

RUTIN

1. Pharmaceutica acta Helvetiae

betulinic acid

1. Dr. Duke

hypericin

1. Pharmaceutica acta Helvetiae

luteolin

1. Pharmaceutica acta Helvetiae

Activities

Hypericum patulum has 18 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Anthelmintic, AntiHIV, Antibacterial, Anticancer, Anticarcinomic.

Anthelmintic

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke

Anticarcinomic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antileukemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke

Antimelanomic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Hypericum patulum has 6 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include bruises, epilepsy, folk medicine, hepatitis, pain.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations