Hypericum virgatum Lamarck. Coppery St. John’s-wort. Phen: Late Jun-Sep. Hab: Hardpan woodlands, rock outcrops, woodland borders, glades and barrens (especially over mafic or ultramafic rocks). Dist: 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.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Taxonomy Comments: Though treated by most recent 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, K1, K3, K4, 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

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
• Midwest: FAC

Heliophily: 7