Hypericum perforatum L. var. angustifolium DC. (Finland, Lohja, Marttila, 1990). – Image: Harri Harmaja: scanned from dried specimen). – This taxon differs from the typical morph of the species (var. perforatum) in (i) the leaves are narrower, and having narrow bases (the leaves resemble those of Galium boreale), (ii) the hyaline secretion dots of the leaves are scantier, (iii) the sepals are longer, long-acuminate (in the buds, they extend clearly beyond the petals), and (iv) the phenology is retarded. A stand of this variety was found in a low, forested limestone outcrop, close to a separate stand comprising of plants of var. perforatum. Agrimonia eupatoria, Phleum pratense ssp. nodosum and Woodsia alpina are among other interesting plants of this rock outcrop. Besides the present morph, I once found in Lohja a stand of small-leaved plants (var. microphyllum DC.?). H. perforatum (Hypericacae) is known as a variable species, mostly setting seed apomictically. However, in Finland this variability has hardly been noted.
Created August 6, 2004.