Hypericum hypericoides

Hypericum hypericoides (L.) Crantz

Common Names: St. Andrews Cross

Family: Hypericaceae

Habit: Hypericum hypericoides grows as a small to medium size shrub to 1 m (usually shorter) in height with red stems and branches.  The sessile leaves are arranged oppositely, to 3 cm in length, linear to oblanceolate, with a rounded to obtuse leaf apex and revolute leaf margin.

The complete, perfect, actinomorphic flowers are in leaf axils.  The calyx has 4 fused green sepals of 2 shapes (2 large and 2 very small). The corolla has 4 unfused yellow petals. There are numerous stamens.  The ovary is superior with 1 locule and numerous seeds.  The fruit is a capsule.

Habitat: Hypericum hypericoides grows in Pine Woodlands and Sabal palmetto ephemeral Fresh Water Wetlands.

Distribution: Hypericum hypericoides occurs on northern island groupings in the Lucayan Archipelago, the Caribbean region, Mexico, Central America.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Hypericum hypericoides is not known to be used medicinally in the Lucayan Archipelago.