Hypericum capitatum (Nomenclature)
Perennial herb, 0.15–0.50 m tall, glabrous, erect from taproot or decumbent at base, branching at base and from all stem nodes, sterile shoots not distinct. Stems eglandular or with ± numerous amber gland dots, not prominent; internodes 10–50 mm, longer to shorter than leaves. Leaves sessile, 8–28 × 1.5–3.5 mm, spreading to ascending, ± glaucous; lamina linear to narrowly oblong, apex subapiculate or rounded, margin sometimes revolute, base rounded; 1-veined or with 1–2 pairs of lateral veins from lower 1/4 of midrib; laminar glands pale, numerous, punctiform, marginal glands spaced. Inflorescence ∞-flowered, very broadly pyramidal to subcorymbiform, subcapitate in bud, 30–70(–100) mm long, with lateral cymules 3–7-flowered, mostly monochasial, sometimes with 1–2 pairs of lower branches; lower bracts linear, entire, upper bracts and bracteoles ovate with sessile black marginal glands. Flowers 8–12 mm in diam., with petals eventually deflexed; buds ellipsoid, obtuse to rounded. Sepals equal, almost free to united, green to dark red, 1.5–2.5 × 0.7–1 mm, oblong to to ovate-lanceolate, acute to obtuse or rarely rounded; veins 3, sometimes slightly prominent; margin regularly glandular-denticulate or with regular subsessile glands, glands black, globose to ellipsoid; laminar glands pale, in usually 2 continuous or interrupted lines. Petals rich yellow to orange-red or blood red or crimson, 5–7 × 2–3 mm, oblanceolate, long-unguiculate, rounded, margin with subsessile black glands towards apex; laminar glands pale, few, distal, punctiform. Stamens c. 35, longest c. 6 mm, equalling petals; filaments yellow to crimson. Ovary c. 1.5–2 × 0.7–1 mm, ovoid, not rostrate; styles yellow to crimson, 3–4 mm, 2 × ovary. Capsule 4–7 × 2.5–4 mm, broadly ovoid to subglobose, not or scarcely rostrate; vittae narrow. Seeds dark brown, 1–1.5 mm long.
Dry calcareous slopes or steppe; 360–900 m.
Syria, south central Turkey.
Like H. olivieri, H. capitatum is a long-narrow-leaved relative of H. lysimachioides; but it differs from that species in having a condensed inflorescence, a many-seeded capsule and, in part, in flower colour. In addition, it does not have the eglandular sepal apex of H. olivieri and H. lysimachioides. Hypericum capitatum occurs in two varieties, which differ strikingly in flower colour and, to some extent, stem height.
The other Hypericum laeve Boiss. & Hausskn. syntype (Noé 832) is H. scabrum var. laeve Boiss. & Hausskn.