# 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.

- **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.

## About

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.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/8927e058-44d4-485d-9b30-8cf36370057a
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/145367
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypericum gentianoides
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/54449838/medium.jpg (Bob Peterson, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.