SAINT JOHN'S-WORT

ST. JOHN'S WORT PLANT...

...DISTINCTIVE YELLOW FLOWERS

Friday, 8:00 AM.  58 degrees at the ferry dock, 55 on the back porch.  Wind NNE, calm with light gusts.  The sky has scattered clouds. The humidity is till 86% after a trace of rain last night.  The barometer stands at 30.06"and has begun to fall, predicting rain Saturday night and into Sunday morning.  It is a quiet morning, and it will be a cool day. 

   Saint John's-wort is the common name for the Genus Hypericum in the St. John's-wort Family, the Guttiferae  This is a confusing genus, with several dozen species common throughout North America, both native and introduced.  I would have a difficult time telling most of them apart and don't even try.  The genus name is from the ancient Greek for the plant.  "Wort" is old-English, simply meaning "plant."

   Probably the most common is the European species, H. perforatum, which has long been known and used in herbal medicine for its anti-depressent qualities, and as such is a valuable medicinal herb, which is readily available for purchase in drug stores, but I would not recommend its use, nor use the collected herb itself, without professional supervision, as it can interact with other medications. The species name refers to tiny clear dots on the leaves, that make them appear to be "perforated."

  Hypericum species are very common along roadsides and in vacant fields and are quite pretty, with distinctive stamens that extend above the five-petaled golden yellow flowers.  They are perennial herbs, which may grow to perhaps three feet in height.

   St. John's-wort is on the Wisconsin DNR list of prohibited invasive plants, and I suppose it might be considered a noxious field and garden weed, but banning it is a stretch for me.