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Photographer: Merel R. Black
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Family Hypericaceae
Hypericum pyramidatum Aiton
giant St. John's-wort, great St. John's-wort
Hypericum: ancient Greek name derived from hyper, "above," and eikon, "picture," from old practice of placing flowers above an image in the house to ward off evil spirits at the midsummer festival of Walpurgisnacht, which later became feast of St. John
pyramidatum: pyramidal
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| Status: | Native |
| Plant: | robust, erect, perennial, 2'-5' tall forb branching near the top |
| Flower: | yellow, 5-parted, 1 1/2"-2 1/3" wide, long-stalked; usually solitary from the ends of the branches; blooms July-Aug. |
| Fruit: | oval capsule with 5 chambers  |
| Leaf: | large, stalkless to clasping  |
| Habitat: | moist; woods, forests, openings, streambanks |
| (Glossary) |
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