Hypericum perforatum L.

Glabrous perennial herb to 1 m tall, with slender rhizomes; stems erect, aerial, 2-lined, woody at base. Lvs sessile, 10-27 × 1-8 mm, lanceolate to oblong or ovate, with numerous pellucid and scattered intramarginal black glands; venation indistinct apart from main veins; base cuneate to subcordate; apex rounded, often mucronulate. Infl. terminal, a panicle of dense, many-flowered, corymbose cymes, more rarely cymes few-flowered; bracts similar to upper lvs. Sepals ± equal, 3-6 mm long, narrow-lanceolate to oblong, not accrescent, entire, acute to acuminate, sometimes with scattered black glands, sometimes the glands pellucid. Corolla 8-20 mm diam., golden, with scattered to numerous black marginal glands; petals obovate, much > sepals. Stamens in 3 bundles, < or = petals. Styles 3, = or > ovary. Capsule 6-8 mm long, narrow-ovoid, dry. Seeds 0.8-1.3 mm long, broad-cylindric, rugose.

It is a temperate plant. In China it grows between 100 and 1800 m altitude on grasslands and open woodlands. It grows in dry habitats. In Argentina it grows between sea level and 1,900 m above sea level. Tasmania Herbarium.

CAUTION: It is most likely poisonous making the skin sensitive to light. The toxic chemical is hypericin. The leaves have a lemon scent and are used as food and for tea. The flowers and flower buds are also eaten and used for tea.

Plants can be grown from seed or by division.