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Nomenclature
Hypericum crux-andreae (L.) Cr.
Nomenclature
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Section: sect. MyriandraSubsection: subsect. Ascyrum
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Synonyms: 13
- lectotype: LINN - Clayton - 230
DIAGNOSTIC DESCRIPTION
Shrub 0.1-1.0(-1.35) m tall, erect to suberect or rarely decumbent and rooting at base, unbranched or rarely sparsely branched below inflorescence (at least until fruiting), branches suberect. Stems becoming red-brown, 2-4-lined and ancipitous when young, soon narrowly 2-winged; cortex exfoliating in thin strips or flakes; bark thin, reddish brown, not corky. Leaves sessile, ascending to spreading, (12-)18-30(-36) x (6-)8-12(-16) mm, oblong to elliptic or rarely obovate to oblanceolate or triangular-ovate, margin plane to subrecurved, paler beneath, sometimes slightly glaucous on both sides, coriaceous, eventually deciduous at basal articulation, apex rounded to obtuse, base rounded to truncate or rarely slightly cordate-amplexicaul; venation: up to 3 pairs of laterals sometimes visible; laminar glands dense. Inflorescence l-3(-7)-flowered from 1-4 nodes, sometimes with flowering branches from up to 4 nodes below, the whole narrowly cylindric to narrowly pyramidal or occasionally with one pair of pseudo-dichotomous branches; pedicels 3-5 mm long; bracts foliar; bracteoles triangular-lanceolate. Flowers 20-30 mm in diam.; buds compressed-subglobose. Sepals 4, markedly unequal, not? enlarging in fruit; outer 9-17(-20) x 9-14(-18) mm, broadly ovate to circular, apiculate to obtuse or rounded, base cordate, basal veins (3)5-7, midrib often branched; inner 7-14 x 2-3(-4) mm, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, acute to subacute, basal veins 3(-5), midrib sometimes branched. Petals 4, bright yellow, 11-18 x 6-10(-12) mm, c. 0.5-1.2 x outer sepals, obovate, with apiculus lateral, acute. Stamens 80- 100, longest 7-8 mm, 0.45- 0.65 x petals. Ovary 3(4)-merous, (3.5-)4-5 x 1.5-2.5 mm, narrowly ellipsoid-ovoid, acute, placentation parietal; styles 3(4), (1-)1.5-2. 5 mm, 0.35-0.5 x ovary, divergent. Capsule 7-9(-10) x 5-6.5 mm, narrowly ellipsoid-ovoid, obtuse (or apiculate fide Small), scarcely lobed. Seeds blackish brown, 0.8 mm long, ecarinate; testa shallowly scalariform.