Hypericum kalmianum - (image 1 of 5)
Taxonomy
Family: Hypericaceae
Habitat
Moist, calcareous sand, sandy bogs, calcareous swale borders.
Associates
Various
Distribution
Limited to the Great Lakes.
Morphology
Woody shrub to 3' high. Leaves opposite, simple, linear-oblong to oblanceolate, to 2" long, usually under 8mm wide, blue-green above and glaucous beneath. Stems brown, 4-angled. Flowers yellow; petals 5, glandless; stamens more than 20; styles 5; born in 3-flowered cymes. Fruit a 5-celled capsule.
Notes
Flowers mid June to early October
Wetland indicator: Facultative wetland-
This shrub is quite a sight in full bloom with the blue waters of Lake Michigan behind it. It is apparently cultivated, although not as well-known as other St. John's Worts. Dirr mentions a cultivar called 'Ames' that was selected for it's rounded shape. It is hardy to zone 4.
Bibliography
Dirr, Michael A. 1998. Manual of Woody Landscape Plants:
Their Identification, Ornamental Characteristics, Culture, Propagation and Uses.
5th ed. Champaign, Illinois: Stipes Publishing L.L.C.
Peterson, R. T. and M. McKenney. 1996. A Field Guide to Wildflowers:
Northeastern and North-Central North America.
Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston, MA
Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region.
Indiana Academy of Science. The Morton Arboretum. Lisle, Illinois.
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Michael Hough © 2005 |