Hypericaceae: St John’s Wort Family
Creeping St John’s Wort – Hypericum anagalloides
Blooms:
June–Aug
Plant Height:
3–30 cm
Flower Size:
Small
Origin:
Native
Habitat:
Wet places
Notes:
A low-growing plant, spread by runners (stolons) and sometimes forming dense mats. Flowers are small and (usually) golden yellow. Leaves are green, sometimes red-tinged, oval to rounded and clasping the stem.
Klamath Weed – Hypericum perforatum subsp. perforatum
Blooms:
May–Aug
Plant Height:
30–120 cm
Flower Size:
Medium
Origin:
Europe
Invasive?
Yes – moderate
Habitat:
Open, disturbed areas, many communities
Notes:
This is an invasive weed which is poisonous to livestock, often found growing in large clumps. Each stem has many (25–100) bright yellow, 5-petaled flowers, which may have a row of tiny black dots along the petal margins. The leaves provide an important diagnostic feature; they appear to be perforated, the result of the presence of many small, clear oil glands. At first sight the leaves bear a resemblance to French Broom (Genista monspessulana), but the plants are unrelated.
