Family: Hypericaceae
larger Canadian St. John's-wort
[Hypericum canadense var. majus L.]
Emmet J. Judziewicz
Robert W. Freckmann
University of Wisconsin - Madison (WIS-VP)
Etymology: Hypericum: ancient Greek name derived from hyper, "above," and eikon, "picture," from old practice of placing flowers above an image in the house to ward off evil spirits at the midsummer festival of Walpurgisnacht, which later became feast of St. John
Plants: forb
Plants: forb
Sandy or peaty lakeshores, along streams and ponds, fields, ditches, along trails and logging roads, wet prairies, sedge meadows, bogs, shady cliffs, wet open sand, gravel and sand pits, road shoulders, rarely on rock outcrops.
A rather weedy native, often found in disturbed areas. Most common in the central and northwestern parts of the state but widespread and known from nearly every county. Hypericum majus is known to hybridize with both H. boreale and H. canadense (which also hybridize with each other) and backcrossing is suspected as well. Hybrids are said to be intermediate between the parents in all characters but since all three species involved are themselves variable, it can be difficult to tell if one is dealing with a hybrid. This is especially true when very tiny individuals are found, only a few cm tall and with only one or a few flowers present. All three species are often found growing together where their ranges overlap in the Central Sands, especially in the copious peaty, sandy ditches of that region.
A rather weedy native, often found in disturbed areas. Most common in the central and northwestern parts of the state but widespread and known from nearly every county. Hypericum majus is known to hybridize with both H. boreale and H. canadense (which also hybridize with each other) and backcrossing is suspected as well. Hybrids are said to be intermediate between the parents in all characters but since all three species involved are themselves variable, it can be difficult to tell if one is dealing with a hybrid. This is especially true when very tiny individuals are found, only a few cm tall and with only one or a few flowers present. All three species are often found growing together where their ranges overlap in the Central Sands, especially in the copious peaty, sandy ditches of that region.
Robert W. Freckmann
Robert H. Read
