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Nomenclature
Hypericum brachyphyllum (Spach) Steud.
Nomenclature
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Section: sect. MyriandraSubsection: subsect. Centrosperma
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Synonyms: 4
DIAGNOSTIC DESCRIPTION
Shrub (0.3-)0.5-1(-1.5) m tall, usually 1-stemmed, erect, forming rounded bush, with branches erect Stems reddish to brownish, sometimes 4-lined when very young (especially just below node), very soon 2-lined and ancipitous, not becoming terete; cortex exfoliating in strips or plates; bark smooth, thin. Leaves sessile, 6-11(-12) x 0.5-0.7 mm, with those in axillary clusters usually half as long to as long, linear, plano-convex, glossy green above, with margin revolute but not concealing all surface beneath, the non-rib area almost smooth, chartaceous, deciduous at basal articulation (midrib base not prominent, cf. 9. H. tenuifolium), apex rounded-apiculate, base parallel; midrib unbranched; laminar glands few, dense, in 2 rows beneath. Inflorescence 3-c. 15-flowered, dichasial or occasionally mixed dichasial/pseudo-dichotomous, without accessory flowers, with 3-5-flowered dichasia or flowering branches from up to c. 10 nodes below, the whole narrowly cylindric; pedicel absent or up to c. 1 mm; bracts foliar. Flowers 10-13 mm in diam.; buds narrowly ovoid-conic. Sepals 5, 2.5-4.5 x 0.5-1 mm, unequal, linear, acute, 1 -veined. Petals 5, bright yellow, spreading, 5-8 x 2.5- 5 mm, obovate-spathulate, with apiculus lateral, acute. Stamens c. 40-45, longest 4-6 mm, c. 0.75-0.8 x petals. Ovary 3-merous, 2-2.5 x 0.5 mm, very narrowly cylindric, acute, placentation parietal; styles 3, 3 mm long, 1.2-1.5 x ovary, separating or deciduous in fruit. Capsule 3.5-5 x 1.5-2 mm, narrowly cylindric to narrowly ovoid-conic, exceeding sepals, thinly coriaceous. Seeds dull brown, 0.4-0.6 mm long, not carinate; testa finely reticulate (alveoli circular-hexagonal).