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St. John’s Wort

Hypericum spp.

St. John's Wort Locations in North America
St. John's Wort Locations in Southeast US
St johns wort top view

St johns wort side view
st johns wort

USDA, NRCS. 2018. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 28 March 2018). National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
Illustration: USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / USDA NRCS. Wetland flora: Field office illustrated guide to plant species. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.

What is St. John’s Wort?

Physical Characteristics

  • Shrub

Leaves:

  • Opposite

Flowers:

  • Symmetrical
  • 5 sepals
  • 5 petals
  • Yellow or orange in color
  • Many stamen

Fruit:

  • 1-celled, sometimes 3 or 5-celled
  • Dry
  • Does not open to release seeds when ripe

Seeds:

  • Many seeded
  • Short
  • Cylindrical

Where Does it Grow?

St. John’s wort can be found in wooded areas.

Pros and Cons of St. John’s Wort

St. John’s wort is toxic and should not be cultivated. Submerged portions of all aquatic plants provide habitats for many micro and macro invertebrates. These invertebrates in turn are used as food by fish and other wildlife species (e.g. amphibians, reptiles, ducks, etc.). After aquatic plants die, their decomposition by bacteria and fungi provides food (called “detritus”) for many aquatic invertebrates.

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Photo Credits: The majority of the aquatic plant line drawings are the copyright of the University of Florida Center for Aquatic Plants (Gainsville). They are used with permission.

Aquatic plant photographs were provided by David Bayne, Jim Davis, Kelly Duffie, Billy Higginbotham, Michael Masser, John Clayton, Chetta Owens, Diane Smith, Joe Snow, Don Steinbach, Bridget Robinson Lassiter and Peter Woods.

You may use these photos, so long as you give credit to AquaPlant.

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