Hypericum mutilum L. var. parviflorum (Willd.) Fernald
Hypericum mutilum L.
Dwarf St. John’s-wort, dwarf St. Johnswort
Dwarf St. John’s wort is native to portions of Europe and North America.
Plants: 4–18″ (10–45 cm) tall, sometimes up to 2½′ (79 cm), heavily branched, with a shrublike habit. Branches may be 4-angled or smooth, tapering, and sometimes winged.
Leaves: Roughly oval in shape, and attached directly to the stem (sessile). They are opposite, unlobed, ½–1½″ (1.3–3.8 cm) long and ¼–¾″ (6.3–19 mm) across.
Flowers: ¼″ (6.3 mm) in size, yellow or yellow-orange, with five petals and 5-15 stamens. Beneath the petals of each flower there are somtimes green bracts that are narrower but roughly the same length, one for each petal. Blooms from July to October.
Fruits: 1/16–⅛″ (2–3.5 mm) in length.
Habitats: Sandy forest floodplains, sandy swamps, moist to wed sandy prairies; damp, sandy, acidic areas in general.
Medical: Hypericin, a component all in species of St. John’s wort, has antidepressant properties. It can also cause photosensitivity if it is handled or ingested.
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Some types of St. John’s wort. |
Online References:
Hypericum mutilum L. var. latisepalum Fernald
Hypericum mutilum L. var. parviflorum (Willd.) Fernald
Hypericum mutilum L. var. parviflorum (Willd.) Fernald
8/28/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 3 × 2″ (7.7 × 5.5 cm) 
1/5/2026 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine 
8/28/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 3 × 2″ (7.4 × 5.6 cm) 
9/11/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 5 × 4″ (12 × 10 cm) 
7/6/2026 · Hideaway Farm, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4½″ (15 × 11 cm) 
7/19/2012 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) 
8/3/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 3½″ (9.6 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain 
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 3½ × 3″ (8.6 × 7.5 cm) 
7/3/2012 · Yellow Trail from Pearl Hill State Park to Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 3″ (8.4 × 8.3 cm) 
8/28/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4 × 5″ (10 × 13 cm) 
8/28/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 5 × 4″ (12 × 10 cm) 
7/3/2012 · Yellow Trail from Pearl Hill State Park to Willard Brook State Park, Ashby, Massachusetts · ≈ 3 × 3″ (7.5 × 8.1 cm) 
7/19/2012 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) ID is uncertain 
Coniical red fruits are about 11 mm, with 1 mm tan seeds. · 1/5/2026 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine 
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm) 
The linear leaves formed these rather elegant curlicues after being uprooted. · 1/5/2026 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine 
7/31/2021 · Otter Brrok Preserve, Harpswell Heritage Land Trust, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 2 × 3″ (6 × 8.3 cm) 
7/6/2026 · Hideaway Farm, Topsham, Maine · ≈ 5 × 8″ (12 × 19 cm) 
8/3/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain 
7/19/2012 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm) ID is uncertain 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Malpighiales | A broad group encompassing 16,000 species |
| Family | Hypericaceae | St. John’s Wort family |
| Genus | Hypericum | From ancient Greek hyper, “above,” and eikon, “picture,” from an old practice of putting flowers above a picture to ward off evil spirits |
| Species | mutilum | Divided as though torn, said of some leaves |
Hypericum mutilum description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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