Hypericum tetrapterum
Hypericum tetrapterum is a herbaceous perennial plant species in the flowering plant family Hypericaceae. Its common names include St. Peter's wort, Peterwort, square stemmed St. John's wort, and square stalked St. John's wort.
Description
Hypericum tetrapterum is a rhizomatous, glabrous perennial plant growing up to in height. The stems are square in cross section, with conspicuous wings at the corners. The leaves are in opposite pairs, simple and entire, and have many translucent glandular dots. The thinly papery leaves are up to long and across and paler underneath. The flowers are produced in flowerheads of 10–30 flowers, each flower in diameter with 5 pale yellow petals and 5 sepals. There may be black glands on the petals and sepals, as well as on the leaves.Distribution and habitat
Hypericum tetrapterum is native to temperate Europe, the Mediterranean basin countries of Europe, north Africa, and western Asia, and the Caucasus, Iraq, and Iran. It is common in damp habitats such as marshes, streamsides, open ditches, meadows, and springs.Varieties
Three varieties are accepted.- Hypericum tetrapterum var. anagallifolium – southern Turkey to Israel
- Hypericum tetrapterum var. corsicum – Corsica
- Hypericum tetrapterum var. tetrapterum – entire range