pineweed
Hypericum gentianoides
Also known as orange-grass, its tiny, scale-like leaves are an evolutionary adaptation to reduce water loss in dry, sandy environments.
- Scientific name
- Hypericum gentianoides
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Malpighiales › Hypericaceae › Hypericum
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- forest
- Habitat
- Sandy or rocky soils, pine barrens, granite outcrops, and open, dry woodlands.
- Diet
- Autotrophic (photosynthesis, drawing water and minerals from acidic, nutrient-poor soils).
- Range
- Eastern United States, Central United States, Southeast Canada
- Size
- 10 to 40 cm tall, with highly branched, wiry green stems.
- Lifespan
- 1 year (annual)
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat loss from commercial development and fire suppression, which allows larger plants to shade out this sun-loving pioneer species.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless. You can safely observe or walk near pineweed. When stepped on or crushed, it releases a pleasant, citrusy pine aroma. Do not ingest, as species in the Hypericum genus contain hypericin, which can cause photosensitivity in sensitive individuals and livestock.
Hypericum gentianoides is a species of St. John's wort native to eastern North America. Its common names include orangegrass and pineweed . It is a 10–40 cm tall herb with repressed leaves 1-3mm long. It is found in uplands sites.
Photo: Bob Peterson, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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