Kingdom Plantae Family Hypericaceae Scientific name Hypericum humifusum | Order Malpighiales Genus Hypericum Rank Species | |
Similar Hypericum montanum, Hypericum pulchrum, Hypericum hirsutum, Hypericum tetrapterum, Hypericum maculatum | ||
Hypericum humifusum is a prostrate flowering plant in the genus Hypericum commonly known as trailing St John's-wort. It is found in Western Europe.
Contents
Description
Hypericum humifusum is a low-growing, hairless perennial. The thin trailing stems have two raised lines and bear opposite pairs of pale green elongated oval leaves, often with tiny translucent glands. The undersides of the leaves have tiny black dots on the edges. The flowers are about 1 cm (0.3 in) across and grow from the leaf axils. There are five sepals of unequal size and five yellow petals, often with a few black dots, and not much larger in size than the sepals. The stamens are united at the base into bundles. The fruits are dry.
Habitat
Hypericum humifusum grows on heaths, dry banks, bare land at the edge of tracks and light woodland. It is found in Western Europe and throughout the British Isles where it flowers from May to September.