List of Hypericum species
Binomial Fossil Status Temporal Range Location
H. antiquum Balueva & Nikitin Seeds Neogene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Russia ( Siberia )
H. canatalense E. Reid Seeds Pliocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓ France
H. coriaceum Nikitin Seeds Miocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Russia
H. danicum Friis Miocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Denmark
H. foveolatum Dorof Seeds Pliocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓ Belarus
H. miocenicum Dorof Oligocene-Pliocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
H. holyi Friis Middle Miocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓ Denmark
H. rostriformum Jakub Seeds Miocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Belarus
H. septestum Nikitin ex Arbuzova Miocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Czech Republic , Russia
H. tertiarium Nikitin Oligocene-Pliocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Extinct
Hypericum fossils have been found from the Late Eocene to the present day , with the most commonly found part of the plant being the seeds due to their hardiness . However , a small number of leaves and even pollen have also been found as fossils . The oldest fossil recovered was a seed belonging to the species H. antiquum which was found in Northern Asia . This species is considered to be the common ancestor of the family Hypericaceae . [ 140 ]
The genus Hypericum contains approximately 500 species which are divided into 36 sections as described by botanist Norman Robson. This division into distinct sections is largely due to the fact that a genus-wide monograph was performed by Robson in 1977, which allowed for a comprehensive analysis of the genus's taxonomy. A phylogenetic study was more recently completed for the genus, which gave evidence to suggest that the genus Triadenum is a clade within Hypericum and that the genus Thornea is sister to Hypericum. In addition, the study found that about 60% of the sections of Hypericum are monophyletic. Almost all species of Hypericum are either perennial herbs, shrubs, or small trees, but the genus also contains a small amount of subshrubs and annual herbs. Most of its species contain hypericin or hyperforin and some are used for their healing properties in folk medicine. The species' leaves are always placed opposite, and are normally decussate. Their flowers are generally homostylous, but very few are dimorphically heterostylous. The petals are normally golden yellow or orange, but some are white or cream, and are veined dorsally. They have 4-5 stamen fascicles, 2-5 ovaries, and 2-5 styles. Some species grow capsular fruit which are colored red or blackish. Hypericum species can be found all over the world in temperate to tropical areas.