Flora of North America species comparison

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Hypericum sphaerocarpum

Hypericum sect. Myriandra

round-fruit St. John's-wort, roundseed St. Johnswort
Habit Herbs (perennial) or subshrubs, erect or decumbent, not or rarely rhizomatous, unbranched or branched proximally, 2–6 dm. Herbs (perennial), subshrubs, or shrubs; black glands absent.
Stems

internodes 2–4-lined.

Leaves

blades narrowly elliptic or narrowly oblong to linear, 30–70 × 3–15 mm, base not articulated, narrowly cuneate to linear, margins plane to revolute, apex subacute to rounded, midrib with 0–4 pairs of branches.

deciduous (base articulated) or persistent (base not articulated).
Inflorescences

rounded-corymbiform, 7–70-flowered, narrowly branched, sometimes with dichasia or branches from to 8 proximal nodes.

Flowers

10–15 mm diam.;

sepals persistent, not enclosing capsule, 5, broadly ovate to oblong-elliptic, ± unequal, 2.5–5 × 1.5–3 mm;

petals 5, bright yellow, oblanceolate-elliptic to elliptic, 5–9 mm;

stamens persistent, 45–85;

ovary 3-merous, placentation parietal.

7–45 mm diam.;

sepals deciduous or persistent, (2–)4–5;

petals deciduous, (3–)4–5;

stamens usually persistent, sometimes deciduous, 30–650, in continuous ring or in 4–5 barely discernable fascicles, each of 1–2 stamens;

ovary 2–5-merous;

placentation incompletely axile to parietal;

styles ± appressed, bases distinct;

stigmas minute.
Capsules

broadly ovoid to depressed-globose, 4.5–8 × 4–7 mm.

Seeds

carinate, 2–2.7 mm;

testa coarsely reticulate.

± carinate or not.

Hypericum sphaerocarpum

Hypericum sect. Myriandra
Phenology Flowering summer (Jun–Aug).
Habitat Rocky outcrops or embankments, prairies, stream banks, usually wet or moist, railroad embankments
Elevation 500–1000 m (1600–3300 ft)
Distribution
from FNA
AL; AR; IA; IL; IN; KS; KY; MI; MO; MS; NE; OH; OK; TN; TX; WI; ON
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
e North America; e Mexico; West Indies (Bahamas, Greater Antilles); Bermuda; Central America (Belize)
Discussion

Hypericum sphaerocarpum differs from H. cistifolium and H. nudiflorum in its semiherbaceous habit and more northwestern distribution, as well as in its combination of relatively long, narrow leaves, persistent sepals, globose and apiculate to rounded capsules, and relatively large seeds. The narrow-leaved, bushy form from eastern parts of the range (var. turgidum) merges with the typical form.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Species 29 (28 in the flora).

Hypericum limosum Grisebach is endemic to western Cuba.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Key
1. Sepals enclosing capsule, (2–)4, unequal (outer pair larger) [subsect. Ascyrum]
→ 2
1. Sepals not enclosing capsule, usually 5, if 3 or 4, usually subequal
→ 6
2. Stamens 30–50; ovaries 2-merous
→ 3
2. Stamens 70–100; ovaries 3(4)-merous
→ 4
3. Leaf bases without glandlike auricles; inflorescences 1-flowered, pedicels mostly recurved to reflexed in fruit, bracteoles proximal.
H. suffruticosum
3. Leaf bases with glandlike auricles; inflorescences 1–12-flowered, pedicels erect in fruit, bracteoles distal.
H. hypericoides
4. Leaf bases cordate-amplexicaul; inflorescences terminal, branching (at apical node) pseudodichotomous
H. tetrapetalum
4. Leaf bases usually cuneate to subrounded, rarely rounded to slightly subcordate-amplexicaul; inflorescences from 1–4 nodes, branching dichasial or pseudodichotomous
→ 5
5. Leaves: bases without glandlike auricles, margins plane to subrecurved; inflorescences 1–3(–7)-flowered, branching dichasial; outer sepals: apices apiculate or obtuse to rounded
H. crux-andreae
5. Leaves: bases with glandlike auricles, margins subrecurved to subincrassate; inflorescences 1-flowered, branching pseudodichotomous; outer sepals: apices acute to subacuminate
H. edisonianum
6. Leaves: bases usually not articulated, if articulated (22. H. myrtifolium), subcordate-amplexicaul; stamens (all or some) usually persistent (deciduous in H. apocynifolium, H. myrtifolium, and H. dolabriforme)
→ 7
6. Leaves: base articulated, not amplexicaul; stamens deciduous [subsect. Centrosperma]
→ 16
7. Shrubs, decumbent, mat-forming, wiry; inflorescences 1(–5)-flowered [subsect. Pseudobrathydium].
H. buckleyi
7. Herbs, subshrubs, or shrubs, erect to ascending or decumbent, not mat-forming, not wiry; inflorescences (1–)3–70-flowered
→ 8
8. Inflorescences widely branched; stamens 120–200 [subsect. Brathydium]
→ 9
8. Inflorescences narrowly branched; stamens 30–95 [subsect. Suturosperma]
→ 10
9. Shrubs, erect, unbranched or branched distally, bark corky; leaf blades oblong-ovate to triangular-lanceolate, (5–)7–20 mm wide, bases articulated, subcordate-amplexicaul.
H. myrtifolium
9. Subshrubs, decumbent, ± branching, bark not corky (thin); leaf blades linear-elliptic or linear-oblong to linear, 3–5 mm wide, bases not articulated, narrowly cuneate to rounded.
H. dolabriforme
10. Leaf blades (7–)10–25 mm wide; sepals deciduous or tardily deciduous; placentation incompletely axile
→ 11
10. Leaf blades 1–10(–15) mm wide; sepals persistent; placentation parietal
→ 12
11. Inflorescences terminal, (1–)3–5(–8)-flowered; sepals tardily deciduous, 1.5–2.3 mm wide; capsules 6–15 × 4.5–8 mm.
H. apocynifolium
11. Inflorescences from 1–3 nodes, the terminal 7–45-flowered; sepals deciduous, 1–1.5 mm wide; capsules 3.5–7 × 3–5 mm.
H. nudiflorum
12. Shrubs; leaf blades 1–3 mm wide; inflorescences 1–3-flowered; sepals (3–)4(–5).
H. microsepalum
12. Herbs, subshrubs, or shrubs; leaf blades (1–)3–15 mm wide; inflorescences usually 7–70-flowered, if flowers 1–6, herbs; sepals usually 5
→ 13
13. Shrubs; capsules ovoid-cylindric to broadly ovoid.
H. cistifolium
13. Herbs or subshrubs; capsules usually broadly ovoid to depressed-globose, if ovoid-ellipsoid to ellipsoid or globose, rhizomatous herbs
→ 14
14. Herbs or subshrubs, not or rarely rhizomatous; capsules broadly ovoid to depressed-globose; seeds 2–2.7 mm.
H. sphaerocarpum
14. Herbs, rhizomatous; capsules ellipsoid to ovoid-ellipsoid or globose; seeds 0.6–0.7 mm
→ 15
15. Herbs, 2–8 dm, relatively stout; leaf blades narrowly oblong or linear to lanceolate or narrowly elliptic.
H. adpressum
15. Herbs, 1–3(–5) dm, relatively slender; leaf blades elliptic or oblanceolate to oblong-elliptic.
H. ellipticum
16. Leaf blades usually elliptic, lanceolate, linear, oblanceolate, or oblong, (1–)3–22 mm wide; sepals usually elliptic, linear, oblanceolate, oblong, obovate, ovate, or spatulate
→ 17
17. Inflorescences usually 1–3(–7+)-flowered from apical node, sometimes with single flowers at 1(–2) proximal nodes
→ 18
17. Inflorescences usually (1–)3–25-flowered from apical node, sometimes with triads, dichasia, or flowering branches from 1–4 proximal nodes
→ 19
18. Shrubs (6–)10–30 dm; leaf blades 8–22 mm wide, margins plane or subrecurved; sepals 4–10 mm wide; ovaries 3-merous.
H. frondosum
18. Shrubs (1.4–)2–6(–10) dm; leaf blades 3–7(–10) mm wide, margins subrecurved to revolute; sepals 1.5–5 mm wide; ovaries (3–)5(–6)-merous.
H. kalmianum
19. Stem internodes 4- or 6-lined at first; inflorescences cylindric or broadly to narrowly elongate-cylindric with 1–5(–7)-flowered lateral dichasia proximally; internodes 4-lined at first and capsules 7–13 mm or internodes 6-lined at first and capsules 4.5–6 mm
→ 20
19. Stem internodes 4-lined at first; inflorescences shortly and broadly pyramidal or broadly cylindric to globose-cylindric, or obpyramidal with (2–)5–15-flowered lateral dichasia proximally; capsules 5–7 mm
→ 21
20. Leaf blades 30–70 mm, narrowly oblong to narrowly elliptic-oblanceolate; flowers 15–30 mm diam.; placentation incompletely axile; capsules 7–13 mm; seeds 1.5–2 mm.
H. prolificum
20. Leaf blades 15–32(–37) mm, narrowly oblong-elliptic or oblanceolate to linear; flowers 9–14 mm diam.; placentation parietal; capsules 4.5–6 mm; seeds 0.7–0.8 mm.
H. galioides
21. Sepals: basal veins 3–7; ovaries (3–)4–5-merous; capsules notably lobed.
H. lobocarpum
21. Sepals: basal veins 1–3; ovaries 3–4(–5)-merous; capsules not or scarcely lobed.
H. densiflorum
22. Shrubs, erect, 3–45 dm
→ 24
23. Leaf blades 13–25 mm; sepals (3–)4.5–7 mm.
H. lloydii
23. Leaf blades 4–11 mm; sepals 2–4 mm.
H. tenuifolium
24. Capsules usually cylindric, rarely narrowly conic or ovoid-conic; bark smooth, not metallic-silvery
→ 25
24. Capsules ± narrowly ovoid-conic or pyramidal-ovoid to ovoid or ellipsoid; bark smooth and metallic-silvery or corky to spongy
→ 26
25. Leaves 9–26 mm; styles shorter than ovaries; capsules (4.5–)5–7 mm.
H. nitidum
25. Leaves 6–12 mm; styles longer than ovaries; capsules 3.5–5 mm.
H. brachyphyllum
26. Bark smooth and metallic-silvery, exfoliating in thin, curled plates; styles 5 mm; seeds 1–1.6 mm; young stems, leaves, and sepals glaucous.
H. lissophloeus
26. Bark corky to spongy, exfoliating in thin, papery sheets or plates; styles 2.5–4 mm; seeds 0.4–0.8 mm; young stems, leaves, and sepals not glaucous
→ 27
27. Stems: internodes 6-lined at first, soon 2-winged, then terete; bark smooth; terminal inflorescence (3–)7–32-flowered.
H. fasciculatum
27. Stems: internodes 4-lined at first, soon 4-angled, then terete; bark striate; terminal inflorescence 1–3-flowered.
H. chapmanii
Source FNA vol. 6, p. 83. FNA vol. 6, p. 74.
Parent taxa Hypericaceae > Hypericum > sect. Myriandra Hypericaceae > Hypericum
Sibling taxa
H. adpressum, H. anagalloides, H. apocynifolium, H. ascyron, H. boreale, H. brachyphyllum, H. buckleyi, H. canadense, H. canariense, H. chapmanii, H. cistifolium, H. concinnum, H. crux-andreae, H. cumulicola, H. densiflorum, H. denticulatum, H. dolabriforme, H. drummondii, H. edisonianum, H. ellipticum, H. erythreae, H. fasciculatum, H. frondosum, H. galioides, H. gentianoides, H. graveolens, H. gymnanthum, H. harperi, H. hypericoides, H. kalmianum, H. lissophloeus, H. lloydii, H. lobocarpum, H. maculatum, H. majus, H. microsepalum, H. mutilum, H. myrtifolium, H. nitidum, H. nudiflorum, H. paucifolium, H. perforatum, H. prolificum, H. pseudomaculatum, H. punctatum, H. radfordiorum, H. scouleri, H. setosum, H. suffruticosum, H. tenuifolium, H. tetrapetalum, H. virgatum, H. ×mitchellianum
Subordinate taxa
H. adpressum, H. apocynifolium, H. brachyphyllum, H. buckleyi, H. chapmanii, H. cistifolium, H. crux-andreae, H. densiflorum, H. dolabriforme, H. edisonianum, H. ellipticum, H. fasciculatum, H. frondosum, H. galioides, H. hypericoides, H. kalmianum, H. lissophloeus, H. lloydii, H. lobocarpum, H. microsepalum, H. myrtifolium, H. nitidum, H. nudiflorum, H. prolificum, H. sphaerocarpum, H. suffruticosum, H. tenuifolium, H. tetrapetalum
Synonyms Brathydium chamaenerium, B. sphaerocarpum, H. chamaenerium, H. sphaerocarpum var. turgidum, H. turgidum section Myriandra
Name authority Michaux: Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 78. (1803) (Spach) R. Keller: in H. G. A. Engler and K. Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 95[III,6]: 214. (1893)
Web links 
Unless otherwise noted, all data comes from the online version of the Flora of North America, who have made most of their content available via a Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0).



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