Common St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum L.)

COMMON ST. JOHNSWORT

(Hypericum perforatum L.)

GROWTH HABIT:  Perennial, erect, numerous branches.

LEAVES:  Opposite, attached directly to stem, 1 inch long, oblong, covered with transparent dots.

STEMS:  Woody at the base, 1 to 3 ft. tall, rust colored, with 2 ridges.

FLOWERS:  Yellow, ¾ inch diameter, numerous in flat-topped clusters, 5 petals with numerous stamens.

ROOTS:  Branched and deep, some shallow and capable of sending up shoots.

SEEDS:  Small, shiny black, with rough texture in a round, pointed, three-part seedpod.

OTHER:  Contains a toxic substance which causes white-haired animals to become allergic to strong sunlight.