Hypericum dolabriforme

Subshrubs, decumbent and woody (not rooting) at base, branching at base or throughout, 1.5–5 dm, bark thin. Stems: internodes 4-lined at first, then 2-lined to terete. Leaf blades linear-elliptic or linear-oblong to linear, 20–35 × 3–5 mm (main stem), base not articulated, narrowly cuneate to rounded, margins recurved to revolute, apex obtuse to acute, midrib unbranched. Inflorescences obconic, (1–)3–20-flowered, ± widely branched, sometimes with single flowers at immediately proximal nodes. Flowers 15–20 mm diam.; sepals persistent, not enclosing capsule, 5, ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, ± foliaceous, unequal, 5–8(–15) × 2–3(–8)mm; petals 5, yellow, curved-dolabriform, 10–13 mm; stamens deciduous, 120–200; ovary 3-merous. Capsules ovoid-conic, rostrate, 4–9 × 3–4 mm. Seeds carinate, 1.5–1.8 mm; testa reticulate-scalariform. 2n = 18.

Phenology: Flowering summer (Jun–Sep).
Habitat: Limestone outcrops, cedar glades, dry, rocky stream beds
Elevation: 0–500 m

Conn., Ga., Ind., Ky., Tenn.

Discussion

Hypericum dolabriforme is superficially similar to H. sphaerocarpum, to which W. P. Adams (1962) related it. Apart from the narrow leaves and unequal sepals, it is much nearer morphologically to H. myrtifolium (for example, in the wide-spreading inflorescence, numbers of stamens, and ovoid-conic capsules). Hypericum bissellii, described from a plant growing in Southington, Connecticut, is unlikely to be indigenous in that state.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa