Hypericum virgatum Lamarck. Section: Brathys. Common name: Coppery St. John’s-wort. Phenology: Late Jun-Sep. Habitat: Hardpan woodlands, rock outcrops, woodland borders, glades and barrens (especially over mafic or ultramafic rocks). Distribution: MD west to s. OH, s. IN, and s. IL, south to c. NC, c. SC, sw. GA, Panhandle FL, s. MS, and se. LA.
ID notes: The flowers of H. denticulatum, H. erythreae, H. harperi, H. radfordiorum, and H. virgatum are rotate (with petals curved to the right when looking down on the flower from above) and with a somewhat coppery yellow.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Taxonomy Comments: Though treated by some authors as a variety of H. denticulatum, H. virgatum is better considered as a distinct species. Webb (1980) recognized H. harperi as a separate species (it had previously been considered a part of H. virgatum), and continued to recognize this taxon as a variety of H. denticulatum. However, based on the nature of the punctate glands, size of seeds, inland distribution, etc., it appears that H. virgatum is more distantly related to H. denticulatum and H. harperi than they are to one another; recognition at the species level is warranted for H. virgatum. As pointed out by Webb, H. denticulatum is primarily tetraploid (n = 24), while H. virgatum and H. harperi are (as far as is known) strictly diploid. Additionally, the aberrant populations from granitic outcrops in the Brushy Mountains of Alexander and Wilkes counties, NC referred by Webb (1980) to this taxon are distinct, and more closely allied to H. denticulatum and H. harperi; see Hypericum radfordiorum for additional discussion.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, FNA6, K4, NS, POWO, Tn, Va, Allison (2011); = Hypericum denticulatum Walter ssp. acutifolium (Elliott) N.Robson — Robson (2006); = n/a — Tat; < Hypericum acutifolium Elliott — S; > Hypericum acutifolium Elliott — S13; < Hypericum denticulatum Walter — Fl2, GW2, Il, WH3; < Hypericum denticulatum Walter var. acutifolium (Elliott) Blake — C, F, G, RAB, W, Adams (1973); > Hypericum denticulatum Walter var. recognitum Fernald & Schub. — F, RAB, WV; > Hypericum virgatum Lam. — S13; Hypericum virgatum Lam. Basionym: Hypericum virgatum Lam. 1797
Links to other floras: = Hypericum virgatum - FNA6
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Midwest: FAC
Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
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© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of alternately wet and dry hardpan forests and woodlands, rock outcrops, woodland borders and clearings over mafic rock and glades.
Stems: Stems slender, 4-angled, branched above.
Leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile, linear to lance-shaped with sharp tips, to 1 1/4 in. long, smooth, with tiny pitted dots beneath.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in open, branching, terminal cluster, with linear-lance-shaped bracts at the bottom; coppery-yellow, 1/3-1/2 in. wide, consisting of 5 asymmetric petals, 5 narrower and shorter sepals, and an erect cluster of stamens and styles in the center.
Fruits: Fruit a reddish-green, erect, conical-oval capsule surrounded by persistent sepals and petals.
Comments:
Height: 8-30 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of alternately wet and dry hardpan forests and woodlands, rock outcrops, woodland borders and clearings over mafic rock and glades.
stems: Stems slender, 4-angled, branched above.
leaves: Leaves opposite, sessile, linear to lance-shaped with sharp tips, to 1 1/4 in. long, smooth, with tiny pitted dots beneath.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in open, branching, terminal cluster, with linear-lance-shaped bracts at the bottom; coppery-yellow, 1/3-1/2 in. wide, consisting of 5 asymmetric petals, 5 narrower and shorter sepals, and an erect cluster of stamens and styles in the center.
fruits: Fruit a reddish-green, erect, conical-oval capsule surrounded by persistent sepals and petals.
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cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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