Hypericum salsugineum (Nomenclature)
Perennial herb 0.1–0.2m tall, erect from decumbent branching base, with stems few, dispersed, unbranched below inflorescence. Stems 2-lined, black-gland-dotted towards base, otherwise eglandular, glabrous, glaucous, internodes 2–12 mm, upper exceeding leaves, lower shorter than leaves. Leaves sessile, coriaceous, glaucous; lamina 1–7 × 1–3 mm, dimorphic, upper larger, lanceolate to linear-elliptic, acute, truncate, spaced, lower smaller, broadly ovate to suborbicular, obtuse to rounded, cordate-amplexicaul, ± densely imbricate; venation: without laterals?; laminar glands black, very sparse or absent; marginal glands absent. Inflorescence 1–5-flowered, from one node, subcorymbiform, without flowering branches below; pedicels c. 1 mm; bracts and bracteoles oblong, margin with sessile black-glands. Flowers c. 12–14 mm? in diam.; buds ellipsoid, subacute. Sepals subequal, basally united, 3–4 × c. 1 mm, oblong, obtuse to rounded, with subsessile or sessile marginal glands; veins 3?, unbranched; laminar glands pale, very sparse or absent and black, numerous, punctiform to striiform; marginal glands black. Petals golden? yellow, not veined red, c. 8–9 mm long, 2.5–3 × sepals, oblong?, rounded, laminar glands black, punctiform and sometimes pale, punctiform to striiform, distal and submarginal; marginal glands absent. Stamens, Ovary, Capsule and Seeds not seen.
2n = 18 (Tokur, 1995).
Salt scrub; c. 900 m.
Central Anatolia, near Tuz Gölü.
Hypericum salsugineum is related to 12. H. papillare but differs from it in its dimorphic leaves that also show characters associated with its saline habitat, i.e. they are smaller, glabrous and coriaceous with few or no glands. Even the marginal black glands characteristic of Sect. Origanifolia are lacking. It was not possible to borrow the holotype or isotype for detailed examination.