HYPERICUML.ST.JOHN'S WORT

HYPERICUML. - ST.JOHN'S WORT

Scientific Description:

Flowers bisexual. Sepals 5. Petals 5, usually yellow, often tinged red or with red veins, rarely with nectary appendages. Stamens in 5 fascicles, antipetalous, free or 4 of them united in pairs to form 2 antisepalous compound fascicles, with 3–c. 125 stamens in each, rarely alternating with sterile fascicles ('fasciclodes'). Ovary 3−5-locular or partly or completely 1-locular with 2-many ovules on each placenta. Styles 3−5, free, slender. Fruit capsular, dehiscing septicidally, usually with resin containing vittae or vesicles in the wall, or rarely fleshy and indehiscent.

Reference:

Robson NKB (1967). Hypericum L., In: Davis PH (ed.), Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 2: 355.

Public Description:

Hypericum is a genus of herbaceous annual or perennials to shrubs and small trees known as “St.John’s-wort”, has a nearly worldwide distribution, missing only from tropical lowlands, deserts and polar regions. There are approximately 458 species in the world and 96 species (104 taxa) in Türkiye. The flowers vary from pale to dark yellow, rarely red colour. Some species with large flashy flowers are used as ornamental plants. St. John's Wort can be seen as a weed in agricultural land and gardens. These plants have an anti-sensitizing effect on the light and sometimes cause abortions when consumed by animals too much. Common St. John's-wort (Hypericum perfoliatum L.) has long been used as a herbal remedy. The oils of this plant are antiseptic, antiviral and and astringent, especially for cuts or skin wounds.

References:

Anonymous 1 (2016). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypericum/, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.

Anonymous 2 (2016). https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/genus/hypericum///, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.

Anonymous 3 (2016). https://allbeautynhealth.com/index.php?route=information/information&information_id=158/, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.

Anonymous 4 (2016). http://www.theplantlist.org/1.1/browse/A/Hypericaceae/Hypericum//, Accessed date: 14.02.2016.

Aslan S (2012). Hypericum L., In: Güner, A., Aslan, S., Ekim, T., Vural, M. & Babaç, M.T. (eds.), Türkiye Bitkileri Listesi (Damarlı Bitkiler). Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanik Bahçesi ve Flora Araştırmaları Derneği Yayını. İstanbul, pp. 523–530.