Matted St John's Wort

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©Hypericum japonicum Richard Hartland CC-BY

Hypericum japonicum

Prostrate mat-forming ground-hugging plant no more than 8 cm tall. Spreading leaves along creeping stems before rising upwards, forming matted patches. Stems are four-ridged with oval leaves to 10 mm. Flowers are orange-yellow in colour and cup-shaped on stems shorter than the leaves.

Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Distinctive Features

Stems with four ridges but shorter than the leaves.
Biology

Perennial. Damp soils. Tolerates summer dryness.
Native Status
Native
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Malpighiales
Family
Hypericaceae
Genus
Hypochaeris
Species
glabra

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Distinct from introduced species by the absence of black dots (oil glands) on the leaves and petals.

Interesting Facts
Similar Species

Very similar to H. gramineum but has a prostrate mat-forming habit, smaller leaves, and prefers a wetter habitat.
Native Status
Native