Hypericum gentianoides

Hypericum gentianoides is a species of flowering plant in the St. John's wort family Hypericaceae. Its common names include orangegrass and pineweed.

Hypericum gentianoides
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Hypericaceae
Genus: Hypericum
Section: H. sect. Brathys
Species:
H. gentianoides
Binomial name
Hypericum gentianoides
(L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb.
Synonyms

Sarothra gentianoides L.

Native to eastern North America, it ranges from Ontario; Nova Scotia and Maine south to Florida, west to Texas, and north to Missouri and Minnesota.[1][2]

It is an annual herb typically growing 10–40 cm tall. The leaves are repressed against the stem, 1-3mm long, and scale-like; an adaptation to reduce transpiration in exposed environments.[3] The flowers are no more than 3mm across, with five to ten stamens, and three styles.[4][5] It commonly grows in nutrient poor soil, sand, and on exposed sites, but is also known to occur in wetter areas such as coastal plain marshes.[5] The name orangegrass refers to the citrus smell that is released when it is crushed.[6] Chemical extracts of H. gentianoides have been found to inhibit the contraction of HIV.[7]

References


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