Scientific Name: Hypericum perforatum L.
Family: Hypericaceae (St. John’s-wort Family)
Common name: European St. John’s Wort
Description: Erect perennial, diffusely branched to around 2 feet tall; flowers and fruits June-September.
Range and Habitat: Introduced from Europe; fields and roadsides; common; chiefly in the mountains and piedmont.
In Porcher’s time… St. John’s-wort was thought to cure demoniac possession, hysteria, and was formerly held to counteract hexes and enchantments. It was supposed to possess the power of healing wounds, bruises, and contusions.
See the historical entry on this plant as it appears in Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests