Hypericum tetrapterum Fr.

Perennial herb (0.15-)0.2-0.7(-1.2) m tall, erect to ± decumbent or rarely ascending to procumbent from creeping and rooting base, with stems numerous to few, initially unbranched below inflorescence, later branched above for half to most of their length.  Stems ± broadly 4-winged, the subsidiary wings narrower or rarely with wings equally narrow, with black glands on the lines and sometimes elsewhere; internodes 7-50 mm, shorter than to exceeding leaves.  Leaves sessile or rarely (especially the lower) up to 0.5 mm petiolate; lamina (6-) 9-40 ´ (4-)7-24 mm, ovate or elliptic or triangular-ovate to orbicular, somewhat paler beneath, thinly chartaceous; apex rounded to very rarely apiculate-obtuse, margin plane or rarely ± undulate, base rounded to cordate-amplexicaul; venation: 1-3 pairs of main laterals from base of midrib; tertiary reticulation dense, rather obscure; laminar glands pale, dense, small; intramarginal glands black, rather close, uniform.  Inflorescence  (1-)10-35(-c. 70)-flowered, from 1-2(-4) nodes, with flowering branches ascending from up to 10 nodes, the whole cylindric to corymbiform, dense or with partial inflorescences dense; pedicels 1-2 mm; bracts and bracteoles 2-3mm long, lanceolate to linear, entire, with 0-4 black glands.  Flowers 10-15 mm in diam., stellate; buds ellipsoid, subacute.   Sepals 5, equal, 3-5 ´ 1-1.5 mm, lanceolate to narrowly oblong, acute to acuminate, entire, erect in bud and fruit; veins 3 with outer pair branched or 5 unbranched; laminar glands striiform to punctiform or occasionally basal linear, all pale or 1-2 black; marginal glands absent or rarely up to 7, black, immersed.  Petals 5, rather pale yellow, not tinged red, 5-8 ´ 2-3(-4) mm, c. 1.4 ´ sepals, oblanceolate, entire or distally unilaterally crenate; laminar glands absent or rarely few, punctiform, black and pale [ch]; marginal glands 1-4 or usually absent.  Stamens 30-40(-60), '3'-fascicled, longest c. 4.5-7.5 mm, c. 0.9 ´ petals.  Ovary 3-locular, 2-2.5 ´ 1-1.5 mm, narrowly ovoid; styles 3, free, 2-3.5 mm, 0.8-1.4 ´ ovary, widely spreading.  Capsule 5-7(-8) ´ 2.4-4 mm, c. 2 ´ sepals, narrowly cylindrical-ellipsoid to ovoid; valves with longitudinal linear vittae.  Seeds dark brown, 0.6-0.8(-1.1) mm, cylindric, not carinate or appendiculate; testa finely foveolate.