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Nomenclature
Hypericum nitidum Lam.
Nomenclature
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Section: sect. MyriandraSubsection: subsect. Centrosperma
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Synonyms: 3
DIAGNOSTIC DESCRIPTION
Shrub or small tree (0.3-)0.6-4.5 m tall, erect, with branches erect to ascending, forming thickets. Stems reddish, 4-lined and ancipitous when young, becoming narrowly 2-winged, eventually terete; cortex exfoliating in flakes or narrow strips; bark brown or reddish to grey, smooth, thin. Leaves sessile, (6-)10-21(-26) x 0.5-1.4 mm, with those in axillary clusters as long or usually somewhat shorter, linear or linear-subulate, sometimes slightly broadened distally, with margin revolute and often completely concealing all but the (sometimes slightly raised) midrib beneath, the non-midrib area sometimes papillose, chartaceous to subcoriaceous, deciduous at basal articulation, apex rounded with prominent hydathode to obtuse-apiculate or long acuminate, base parallel or narrowly cuneate; midrib unbranched, laminar glands dense in 2 rows beneath and scattered above. Inflorescence (1)3-l5(-32)-flowered, without accessory flowers, often with l-3(-7)-flowered dichasia from up to 6 nodes below, and sometimes with 1-2 pairs of flowering branches, the whole narrowly to broadly cylindric or very rarely obpyramidal; pedicels 0.5-1 mm long; bracts foliar. Flowers 10-18 mm in diam.; buds ovoid, acutely acuminate. Sepals 5, (3.5-)4-6.5(-7) x 0.4-0.8 mm in diam.; unequal to subequal, linear-subulate, acute, with margin revolute, 1-veined, midrib unbranched. Petals 5, pure yellow, spreading, (5-)6-10 x 3-6 mm, c. 1.5 x sepals, obovate to elliptic-oblanceolate, with apiculus lateral, acute. Stamens c. 50-80(-115), longest 4.5-6.5(-7) mm, c. 0.65-0.8 x petals. Ovary (2)3(4)-merous, 3-4.5 x 0.5-1.2 mm, very narrowly pyramidal-ovoid (almost cylindric), acute, placentation parietal; styles 3, 2-3.5 mm long, c. 0.7 x ovary, not separating in fruit. Capsule (4.5-)5-7 x (1.4-)2-3 mm, very narrowly conic to cylindric. Seeds reddish brown, c. 0.5 mm long, scarcely carinate; testa finely reticulate.