St John's wort (Hypericum glandulosum)

From Wikipedia

Hypericum glandulosum is a perennial herb in the genus Hypericum, in the section Adenosepalum, subsect. Aethiopicum.

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0: Hypericum glandulosum

Description

A small subshrub. Stems suberect to procumbent. Leaves ovate, with a blunt tip, sessile, perfoliate at the base, opposite and decussate, hairy beneath, with glandular margins. Inflorescence a dense cyme. Flowers pale yellow, small. Fruit a capsule, sometimes fleshy. Seeds very small, brown.

Propagation and growing

A monoecious, outcrossing plant that flowers between August and September. Pollination is by insects (possibly by beetles, cantharophily). The capsules hold a great number of tiny seeds dispersed by wind. It reproduces well from seed, and propagation by stolons is suspected. In the laboratory the species shows low germination rates (25%); however, its seeds have been shown to germinate at 100% both at cool temperatures (15 ºC) and at medium temperatures of 21 ºC, and 100% up to 26 ºC, that is, at any time of year. Sow in a standard substrate with some humus-rich soil. Seeds should be broadcast and left on the surface, not covered. A species for mid-altitude areas in the north of the island, in part-sun positions within the monteverde (laurel forest) zone.

Garden use

A low-growing shrub for edges, of little ornamental interest. This species needs little maintenance and little water; water only in winter and spring if rainfall is scarce or absent. It needs very humus-rich, laurisilva-type soils with surface humus to grow properly.

Notes

Like other Hypericum species, it has medicinal uses as an antidepressant.

Protection status

Not listed.

Potential vegetation

Matorrales asociados al monteverde.

Districts

Anaga · Metropolitan area (Santa Cruz and La Laguna) · Acentejo · La Orotava Valley · Daute