Georgia St. John's-wort facts for kids

The Georgia St. John's-wort (scientific name: Hypericum erythreae) is a type of flowering plant. It is also known as the sparse-leaved St. John's-wort or grit St. Johnswort. This plant belongs to the St. John's wort family, called Hypericaceae.

You can find this plant growing naturally in the southeastern United States. It often grows in wet areas like seepage bogs and ditches along roads. The name "grit St. Johnswort" comes from where it is mostly found. It grows in a special area of Georgia called the Altamaha Grit region, which is part of the coastal plain.

Where Does Georgia St. John's-wort Grow?

The Georgia St. John's-wort is mainly found in the southeastern parts of the United States. Most sources say it grows in Georgia and South Carolina. Some older information suggested it might grow in a wider area, from Maryland to Louisiana. However, more recent studies show its home is mostly in Georgia. It is even thought to be very rare or possibly gone from South Carolina.

How Was This Plant Discovered?

The Georgia St. John's-wort was first officially described in 1836. A scientist named Édouard Spach gave it the name Brathys erythraeae. A few years later, in 1840, another scientist named Ernst Gottlieb von Steudel moved it to the Hypericum group, which is where it stays today.