Imperforate St John's-Wort

Appearance

''Hypericum maculatum'' is a hairless perennial herbaceous plant growing to about 60cm. The stem is square in cross section, but without the wings shown in ''H. tetrapterum''.

The leaves are simple, entire and in opposite pairs, without stipules and have few or no translucent glands. There may be black dots on the leaves, petals and sepals.

The flowers are yellow, up to about 25mm across. The species hybridises with ''Hypericum perforatum'' to produce Des Etang's St John's wort, ''Hypericum x desetangsii''.

Uses

It is considered to be a medicinal plant. ''Hypericum maculatum'' herb has been used in the traditional Austrian medicine internally as tea or oil extract, and externally as oil extract, ointment or cold maceration in ethanol for treatment of disorders of the skin, locomotor system, nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory tract, kidneys and urinary tract, cardiovascular system, infections, rheumatism and gout.