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Hypericum

 
Dictionary: Hy·per·i·cum

n.

(Bot.) A genus of plants, generally with dotted leaves and yellow flowers; -- called also St. John's-wort.


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Veterinary Dictionary: Hypericum
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A genus of the Clusiaceae (syn. Guttiferae) family of plants; contain the photosensitizing agent hypericin causing primary photosensitive dermatitis; includes H. aethiopicum, H. lanceolatum, H. leucoptychodes, H. perforatum (amber, goat weed, St. Johns wort, Klamath weed), H. revolutum (forest primrose), H. triquetrifolium (curled-leaved St. Johns wort).

Gardener's Dictionary: Hypericum
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The botanical name for St.-John's-wort.

hypericum

Word Tutor: Hypericum
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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: n. Large genus of shrubs and herbs with often showy yellow flowers.

Wikipedia: Hypericum
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Hypericum

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Subclass: Rosidae
(unranked): Eurosids I
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Clusiaceae
Subfamily: Hypericoideae
Tribe: Hypericeae
Genus: Hypericum
L.
Species

Around 400, see text

Synonyms

Adenotrias Jaub. & Spach
Androsaemum Duhamel
Androsemum Link
Ascyrum L.
Lianthus N.Robson
Olympia Spach
Sanidophyllum Small
Sarothra L.
Takasagoya Y.Kimura
Triadenia Spach

Hypericum (pronounced /ˌhaɪˈpɪərɨkəm/)[1] is a genus of about 400 species of flowering plants in the family Clusiaceae, subfamily Hypericoideae (formerly often considered a full family Hypericaceae).

The genus has a nearly worldwide distribution, missing only from tropical lowlands, deserts and polar regions. All members of the genus may be referred to as St. John's-wort, though they are also commonly just called hypericum, and some are known as tutsan. The marsh St. John's-worts are nowadays separated in Triadenum.

St. John's-worts vary from annual or perennial herbaceous herbs 5–10 cm tall to shrubs and small trees up to 12 m tall. The leaves are opposite, simple oval, 1–8 cm long, either deciduous or evergreen. The flowers vary from pale to dark yellow, and from 0.5–6 cm in diameter, with five (rarely four) petals. The fruit is usually a dry capsule which splits to release the numerous small seeds; in some species it is fleshy and berry-like.

Contents

Uses of Hypericum

Hypericum calycinum cv. 'Hidcote'

Some species are used as ornamental plants and have large, showy flowers. Numerous hybrids and cultivars have been developed for use in horticulture, such as Hypericum × moserianum (H. calycinum × H. patulum) and Hypericum calycinum cv. 'Hidcote'.

St. John's-worts can occur as nuisance weeds in farmland and gardens. On pastures, some can be more than a nuisance, causing debilitating photosensitivity and sometimes abortion in livestock. The beetles Chrysolina quadrigemina, Chrysolina hyperici and the St. John's-wort Root Borer (Agrilus hyperici) like to feed on Common St. John's-wort (H. perforatum) and have been used for biocontrol where the plant has become an invasive weed.

Hypericum species are the only known food plants of the caterpillar of the Treble-bar, a species of moth. Other Lepidoptera species whose larvae sometimes feed on Hypericum include Common Emerald, The Engrailed (recorded on Imperforate St. John's-wort, H. maculatum), Grey Pug and Setaceous Hebrew Character.

Medical properties

Common St. John's-wort (H. perforatum) has long been used in herbalism. It was known to have medical properties in Classical Antiquity and was a standard component of theriacs, from the Mithridate of Aulus Cornelius Celsus' De Medicina (ca. 30 CE) to the Venice treacle of d'Amsterdammer Apotheek in 1686. Folk usages included oily extract ("St. John's oil") and Hypericum snaps.

H. perforatum is the most potent species and it is today grown commercially for use in herbalism and medicine; other St. John's-worts possess interesting properties and chemical compounds but are not well researched. As these secondary compounds appear to be related to deterring herbivores, they are present in varying and unpredictable quantities: still, a number of high-yield cultivars have been developed.

Two main compounds of interest have been studied in more detail: hyperforin and hypericin. However, the pharmacology of H. perforatum is not resolved, and at least its antidepressant properties are caused by a wide range of factors interacting. As psychiatric medication, it is usually taken as pills, or as tea. Few standardised preparations are available, and research has mainly studied alcoholic extracts and isolated compounds. What research data exists supports a noticeable effect in many cases of light and medium depression[citation needed], but no significant improvement of severe depression and OCD.

Another common use of H. perforatum is as an oily extract: the ruby-red oil appears to be strongly antibiotic[citation needed], assisting healing of wounds[citation needed], first-degree burns[citation needed] and concussions[citation needed]. Both hypericin and hyperforin are reported to have antibiotic properties[2]. Justifying this view with the then-current doctrine of signatures, herbalist William Coles (1626-1662)[3] wrote in the 17th century that

"The little holes whereof the leaves of Saint Johns wort are full, doe resemble all the pores of the skin and therefore it is profitable for all hurts and wounds that can happen thereunto."

There is evidence that St. John's-worts can act as abortifacients since interference with the Combined oral contraceptive pill has occurred.[citation needed] Complications have also been observed in other human patients: high-dosage H. perforatum interacts with a wide range of medications due to activation of the Pregnane X receptor detoxification pathway, as well as causing photosensitivity. It is strongly recommended not to take St. John's-wort during pregnancy or when tanning, and it has caused a few deaths in patients undergoing anti-HIV/AIDS and cancer therapy. Extremely high doses (rarely reached with OTC preparations) are hepatotoxic.

Hypericum is a common treatment in homeopathy, used for the healing of deep wounds or as a relief from depression.

Selected species

Hypericum coris
Hypericum ericoides, fruiting
Hypericum inodorum cv. 'Magical Passion'
Hypericum lanceolatum
Hypericum olympicum
Slender St. John's-wort, Hypericum pulchrum
Hypericum tomentosum
Hypericum uralum
  • Hypericum acmosepalum
  • Hypericum acostanum
  • Hypericum addingtonii
  • Hypericum adenotrichum
  • Hypericum aegypticum
  • Hypericum anagalloidesCreeping St. John's-wort, Bog St. John's-wort, Tinker's-penny
  • Hypericum androsaemumTutsan
  • Hypericum annulatum
  • Hypericum aphyllum
  • Hypericum ascyron
  • Hypericum asplundii
  • Hypericum athoum
  • Hypericum atomarium
  • Hypericum augustinii
  • Hypericum balearicum
  • Hypericum balfourii
  • Hypericum barbatum
  • Hypericum beanii
  • Hypericum bellum
  • Hypericum boreale – Northern St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum buckleii – Blue Ridge St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum bupleuroides
  • Hypericum calycinumGreat St. John's-wort, Jerusalem Star, "Rose of Sharon", "Aaron's Beard"
    • Hypericum calycinum cv. 'Hidcote'
  • Hypericum canadense L. – Canadian St. John's-wort, Irish St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum canarienseCanary Islands St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum capitatum
  • Hypericum cerastoides
  • Hypericum choisianum
  • Hypericum cistifolium
  • Hypericum concinnumGoldwire
  • Hypericum confertum
  • Hypericum cordifolium
  • Hypericum coris
  • Hypericum crenulatum
  • Hypericum crux-andreae
  • Hypericum cumulicola – Highlands Scrub Hypericum
  • Hypericum curvisepalum
  • Hypericum delphicum
  • Hypericum densiflorum
  • Hypericum denticulatum Walt. – Coppery St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum dissimulatum – Disguised St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum dyeri
  • Hypericum eastwoodianum
  • Hypericum elegans
  • Hypericum ellipticum[verification needed]
  • Hypericum elodes – Marsh Hypericum
  • Hypericum elongatum
  • Hypericum empetrifolium
  • Hypericum erectum
  • Hypericum ericoides
  • Hypericum fasciculatum
  • Hypericum fieriense
  • Hypericum foliosum
  • Hypericum formosum – Western St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum forrestii
  • Hypericum fragile
  • Hypericum frondosa[verification needed]
  • Hypericum galioides
  • Hypericum gentianoides (L.) BSP. – Orange-grass St. John's-wort, Pinweed
  • Hypericum glandulosum
  • Hypericum gnidiifolium
  • Hypericum gramineum
  • Hypericum grandifolium
  • Hypericum graveolens
  • Hypericum hartwegii
  • Hypericum henryi
  • Hypericum hircinum – Stinking Tutsan
  • Hypericum hirsutum L. – Hairy St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum hookerianum
  • Hypericum humifusum L. – Trailing St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum hypericoides
  • Hypericum hyssopifolium
  • Hypericum × inodorum
  • Hypericum japonicum
  • Hypericum kalmianum – Kalm's St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum kamtschaticum Ledeb.
  • Hypericum kelleri
  • Hypericum kotschyanum
  • Hypericum kouytchense
  • Hypericum lagarocladum
  • Hypericum lancasteri
  • Hypericum lanceolatum
  • Hypericum lanuginosum
  • Hypericum leschenaultii
  • Hypericum linariifolium – Toadflax-leaved St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum linarioides
  • Hypericum llanganaticum
  • Hypericum lobbii
  • Hypericum lobocarpum
  • Hypericum maclarenii
  • Hypericum maculatumImperforate St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum maguirei
  • Hypericum majus – Larger Canadian St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum matangense
  • Hypericum monogynum
  • Hypericum montanum L. – Pale St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum montbretii
  • Hypericum × moserianum
  • Hypericum mutilum L. – Dwarf St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum myricariifolium Hieron.
  • Hypericum nanum
  • Hypericum nudiflorum
  • Hypericum nummularium – Round-leaved St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum oblongifolium
  • Hypericum olympicum
  • Hypericum orientale
  • Hypericum origanifolium
  • Hypericum pallens
  • Hypericum patulum Thunb
  • Hypericum peninsulare
  • Hypericum perfoliatum
  • Hypericum perforatumCommon St. John's-wort, Perforate St John's-wort, Tipton's Weed, Klamath Weed
    • Hypericum perforatum cv. 'Anthos'
  • Hypericum prietoi
  • Hypericum prolificum – Shrubby St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum pseudohenryi – Irish Tutsan
  • Hypericum pulchrum – Slender St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum punctatum Lam. – Spotted St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum quitense
  • Hypericum reflexum
  • Hypericum reptans
  • Hypericum reductum
  • Hypericum revolutum Vahl
  • Hypericum richeri
  • Hypericum roeperanum Schimp. ex A. Rich.
  • Hypericum rumeliacum
  • Hypericum sampsonii
  • Hypericum scopulorum
  • Hypericum scouleri – Western St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum setosum
  • Hypericum socotranum
  • Hypericum sphaerocarpum – Roundfruit St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum spruneri
  • Hypericum stellatum
  • Hypericum subsessile
  • Hypericum tenuicaule
  • Hypericum tetrapterumSquare-stalked St. John's-wort, Square-stemmed St. John's-wort, St. Peter's-wort, Peterwort
  • Hypericum tomentosum
  • Hypericum tortuosum
  • Hypericum trichocaulon
  • Hypericum triquetrifoliumCurled-leaved St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum undulatum – Wavy St. John's-wort
  • Hypericum uralum
  • Hypericum vacciniifolium
  • Hypericum wilsonii
  • Hypericum xylosteifolium – Turkish Tutsan
  • Hypericum yakusimense

See also

External links

  1. ^ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
  2. ^ Schempp CM, Pelz K, Wittmer A, Schöpf E, Simon JC (June 1999). "Antibacterial activity of hyperforin from St John's wort, against multiresistant Staphylococcus aureus and gram-positive bacteria". Lancet 353 (9170): 2129. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(99)00214-7. PMID 10382704. 
  3. ^ William Coles. "Adam in Eden, or: earth's Paradise". http://copac.ac.uk/wzgw?id=09040327d555a7d0a9d3e2c741c82c07ca3d38&rsn=2&esn=F&f=u&rn=1. Retrieved 2009-04-04. 

University of Illinois Extension. "Selecting Shrubs for Your Home - Kalm St. Johnswort (Hypericum kalmianum)". http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/shrubselector/detail_plant.cfm?PlantID=359. 


 
 
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amber
curled St. Johns wort
goatweed

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Dictionary. Webster 1913 Dictionary edited by Patrick J. Cassidy  Read more
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