Roundseed St. Johnswort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Roundseed St. Johnswort |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Hypericum
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| Species: |
sphaerocarpum
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Hypericum sphaerocarpum, also called the roundseed St. Johnswort or barrens St. John's wort, is a type of flowering plant. It is part of the St. John's wort family. This plant grows naturally in the Eastern United States. You can mostly find it in the Midwest and Mid-South regions. It also grows in Ontario, Canada.
About Roundseed St. Johnswort
Hypericum sphaerocarpum is a special kind of plant. It is a perennial, which means it lives for more than two years. It is also "semi-woody," meaning its stems are a bit like wood, but not as hard as a tree trunk.
What it Looks Like
This plant produces groups of bright yellow flowers. These flowers usually appear during the summer months. The leaves of Hypericum sphaerocarpum are shiny and glossy.
How it Grows
Hypericum sphaerocarpum likes to grow in dry places. It prefers areas with calcareous soil. This type of soil has a lot of calcium, like limestone. You can often find it in "cedar glades" and "prairies." Cedar glades are open, rocky areas where cedar trees grow. Prairies are large, open grasslands.
Similar Plants
Sometimes, people confuse Hypericum sphaerocarpum with another plant called Hypericum dolabriforme. This happens especially in places where both plants grow. But there are ways to tell them apart! H. sphaerocarpum has smaller flowers. Its leaves are also glossier, or shinier. It also grows using special underground stems called rhizomes. These rhizomes help the plant spread out and form patches.
