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Cressler, Alan

Hypericum gentianoides

Hypericum gentianoides (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.

Orangegrass, Pineweed

Clusiaceae (Mangosteen Family)

Synonym(s): Sarothra gentianoides

USDA Symbol: HYGE

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

Small, yellow, nearly sessile flowers on wiry, ascending branches of a bushy plant.

With its tiny flowers and scaly leaves on erect, wiry branches, this annual is unlike most St. John's-worts. It is typical of sterile, bare, open sites, where its flowers open only in the sun. Its capsules are usually red. The similar Nits-and-lice (H. drummondii) has fewer branches, a broad oval capsule, and larger leaves 1/2-1" (1.5-2.5 cm) long; it occurs from Maryland south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Iowa, southern Illinois, and West Virginia.

From the Image Gallery

7 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.
Leaf: Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NH , NJ , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV
Canada: ON
Native Distribution: Ontario; Nova Scotia and Maine south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Missouri and Minnesota.
Native Habitat: Open, sandy or rocky areas.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FACU				UPL	FACU		FACU	FACU

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Hypericum gentianoides in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Hypericum gentianoides in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Hypericum gentianoides

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-03-21
Research By: TWC Staff

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