Hypericaceae: St. Johnswort Family. Identify plants, flowers, shrubs, trees.

Thomas J. Elpel's
Web World Portal

Wildflowers
& Weeds

E-Mail

Hypericaceae: St. Johnswort Family Plant Identification Characteristics.

Hypericaceae
Plants of the St. Johnswort Family

If you've been troubled by depression then you may be delighted to learn about the Saint John's Wort family. Saint John's Wort has become a well-known and effective herbal alternative to Prozak and other antidepressants. These are perennial herbs with simple, opposite leaves. The leaves are often covered with dark glands or clear dots. The petals are usually yellow, but may be tinged with red or orange spots. At least one species has pink blossoms. The flowers are regular and bisexual with 4 to 5 sepals, 4 to 5 petals, and 10 or more stamens. The ovary is positioned superior and consists of 3 to 5 united carpels (syncarpous) with the partition walls present, forming an equal number of chambers. It matures as a capsule.

Worldwide, there are at least 3 genera and 356 species in the family, mostly of Hypericum. Hypericaceae is often considered a subfamily of the larger Clusiaceae (also known as Guttiferae).

Key Words:
Yellow flowers with parts in fours or fives. Opposite leaves with clear dots.

Please e-mail Thomas J. Elpel to report mistakes or to inquire about purchasing high resolution photos of these plants.

Hypericum perforatum. St. Johnswort. At a campground in northern Idaho. St. Johnswort is an invasive weed imported from Eurasia. For more information go to St. Johnswort ecology and control.

St. John's Wort: Hypericum perforatum.

St. John's Wort: Hypericum perforatum. St. John's Wort is native to the Europe, but widely naturalized and often invasive in suitable habitats worldwide. It is used herbally as an antidepressant. Photographed in New Zealand.

St. John's Wort: Hypericum perforatum.