hypericum hirsutum
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant in the St John's wort family Hypericaceae}}
{{Speciesbox
|image=Hypericum hirsutum coteau-charteves 02 23062007 2.jpg
|image_caption=In Coteau de Chartèves (Aisne), France
|genus=Hypericum
|parent=Hypericum sect. Taeniocarpium
|species=hirsutum
|authority=L.
|range_map=
}}
File:Hypericum hirsutum i01.jpg
Hypericum hirsutum is a species of flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae, commonly known as hairy St John's-wort.{{BSBI 2007 |access-date=2014-10-17 }} It is found in Western Europe.
Description
Hypericum hirsutum is a downy perennial plant that grows to two or three feet. It has erect stems and opposite pairs of untoothed, elongated oval leaves with translucent glandular dots. The terminal inflorescences have many pale yellow flowers. Each has five pointed sepals with stalked black dots on the margins. The five petals also may have black dots and the many stamens are in bundles. Hairy St John's wort is very similar to common St John's wort (H. perforatum) but can be distinguished by the downy stems and the much longer leaves.{{cite book | author1=McKlintock, D. | author2=R. S. R. Fitter | name-list-style=amp | title=The Pocket Guide to Wild Flowers | year=1956 | publisher=Collins, London | page=29}}
=Phytochemistry=
Miquelianin (Quercetin 3-O-glucuronide), a type of phenolic compound, is present in H. hirsutum.{{cite journal | title=Miquelianin and other polyphenols from Hypericum hirsutum | author= G. M. Kitanov | journal=Chemistry of Natural Compounds | year= 1988 | volume=24 | issue=1 | pages=119–120 | doi=10.1007/BF00597593| s2cid= 37846890 }}
Distribution
Hypericum hirsutum is a species of temperate regions and grows in Europe and western Siberia. It is uncommon and localised in Finland which is to the north of its European range{{cite web | url=http://www.luontoportti.com/suomi/en/kukkakasvit/hairy-st-johns-wort | title=Hairy St. John's-wort Hypericum hirsutum | access-date=29 March 2020 | publisher= LuontoPortti / NatureGate}} In Britain it is a widespread species except for the far north and west{{cite web |url=https://www.naturespot.org.uk/species/hairy-st-johns-wort | title=Hairy St John's-wort - Hypericum hirsutum | access-date=29 March 2020 | publisher=NatureSpot Recording the Wildlife of Leicestershire and Rutland}} while it is rare and localised in Ireland being found at only two sites in Northern Ireland and with its Irish range centred around County Dublin.{{cite web | url=http://www.habitas.org.uk/flora/species.asp?item=2967 | title=Hypericum hirsutum L. - Hairy St. John's-wort - Guttiferae / Hypericaceae / Clusiaceae | access-date=29 March 2020 | publisher=National Museums Northern Ireland}}
Habitat and ecology
Hypericum hirsutum is a perennial herb which prefers free-draining, neutral to base-rich soils. It grows in open or partially shaded habitats such as rough and ungrazed grassland, clearings and rides in woodland, on the banks of rivers and road verges. In Britain it has an altitudinal range from sea level to {{convert|450|m|ft}} in Cumberland.{{cite web | url=https://www.brc.ac.uk/plantatlas/plant/hypericum-hirsutum | title=Hypericum hirsutum | access-date=29 March 2020 | work=Online Atlas of British and Irish Flora | publisher=Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland}} At the very northern extreme of its range, in south-western Finland it grows in the open, lime rich situations and does not grow in shade.
References
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Category:Plants described in 1753