Family |
Hypericaceae
Hypericum hircinum
L.
Hypericum hircinum L.
First published in Sp. Pl.: 784 (1753).
(Nouvelle Flore du Liban et de la Syrie, vol. 2, p. 520, Pl. CCXXV, 1; 1970)
Description
Life-form & habit: Hairless shrub with erect stems, four-angled branches and a strong goat-like odour.
Leaves: Sessile, oblong, 2–5 cm long, tapering toward a blunt tip, without translucent dots.
Inflorescence & flowers: Few-flowered terminal clusters. Lanceolate, pointed sepals, 4–5 mm long, fall early. Bright-yellow petals are about 2 cm long; numerous stamens in five bundles extend beyond them.
Fruit: Three-chambered capsule opening at the apex and topped by very long styles.
Flowering and habitat
Phenology: Flowering June–September.
Habitat & elevation: Watercourse margins and moist places.
Distribution
Lebanese distribution: Saida, Nahr Aouali, Beirut, Antelias, Nahr el Kalb, Tripoli, Qrayye, Jounieh–Ghazir, Bikfaya, near Zghorta, Kahale, Abey, Broummana, Hammana road, Chouit–Hammana, Faraya, Ain Zehalta, Falougha, Dimane, Hasroun, Chtaura, Bqaatouta and Kfertay.
Syrian distribution: Ain Halakim, Doummar and Raboue.
Native range: Baleares, Corse, Cyprus, East Aegean Is., France, Greece, Italy, Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, Palestine, Sardegna, Saudi Arabia, Sicilia, Spain, Türkiye.
Introduced into: Great Britain, Ireland, NW. Balkan Pen., Portugal.