Round-Leaved St John'S-Wort

hypericum nummularium

The Round-Leaved St John's-Wort is a charming perennial wildflower native to the rocky, limestone-rich slopes of southwestern Europe, particularly the Pyrenees and the western Alps. Unlike its upright, tall cousins, this species boasts a low-growing, prostrate habit. It drapes itself gracefully over sheer rock faces and crevices, forming cushions of rounded, bluish-green foliage that resemble tiny coins scattered across the stone. During the summer, these mountain gems come alive with bright yellow flowers, adding a splash of vibrant color to the stark alpine landscape.

Lebensraum: Found in damp limestone rock crevices, mountain scree slopes, and shaded alpine cliffs.

Aussehen

This creeping perennial typically reaches heights of only 5 to 20 cm, spreading horizontally over rocky surfaces. Its small, opposite, almost perfectly circular leaves are glaucous or bluish-green, with tiny translucent glands visible under close inspection. The star-like flowers are bright golden-yellow, measuring 1.5 to 2.5 cm across, with five distinct petals that may show tiny black dots along the margins. The center of each flower is crowded with a dense, brush-like cluster of numerous long, protruding stamens.

ReichPlantaeStammTracheophytaKlasseMagnoliopsidaOrdnungMalpighialesFamilieHypericaceaeGattungHypericum

Round-Leaved St John'S-Wort

Kategorie

Pflanzen

Seltenheit

Common

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Snaps

Mach den ersten Snap!

Interessante Fakten

It is a specialist of karst landscapes, perfectly adapted to survive in areas with soluble rocks where surface water quickly disappears underground.

The species name 'nummularium' is derived from the Latin word for coin ('nummulus'), referencing the beautifully round, coin-like shape of its leaves.

Unlike common St John's-wort, which grows tall and weed-like, this species behaves like a delicate mountain groundcover.

Besondere Fähigkeiten

It possesses highly specialized, deep-reaching root systems that can wedge into tight limestone fissures to secure moisture and anchoring.

Its creeping, low-lying growth pattern helps it survive freezing alpine temperatures and high-velocity mountain winds.

The foliage contains hypericin and other secondary metabolites that act as natural deterrents against insects and mammalian grazers.

Maße und Details

Länge: 5-20 cm
Lebenserwartung: 3-10 Jahre

Ernährung und Fütterung

As a photosynthetic plant, it produces its own energy using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water while absorbing essential minerals from limestone soils.

Hauptnahrung

Sunlight
Carbon Dioxide
Water
Limestone Minerals

Ökologische Zusammenhänge

mutualism

Bilberry Bumblebee

Bombus monticola

Visits the bright yellow blossoms for nectar and pollen, acting as an alpine pollinator.

eaten by

Pyrenean Chamois

Rupicapra pyrenaica

Feeds occasionally on the subalpine vegetation of the Pyrenees, including wild St John's-worts.

competitor

Earleaf Bellflower

Campanula cochleariifolia

Competes for precious space and moisture in narrow rock fissures on alpine cliffs.

Merkmale

Für dieses Objekt sind noch keine Merkmal-Badges vergeben.

Auch bekannt als

Noch keine Alternativnamen vorhanden.

Sammlungen

Sammlungen für dieses Objekt erscheinen hier, wenn weitere Themen hinzugefügt werden.

Sicherheit

Gefahr

1/5 · Sehr gering

Noch keine besonderen Sicherheitshinweise.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

Wie identifiziert man Round-Leaved St John'S-Wort?

Der einfachste Weg, Round-Leaved St John'S-Wort zu bestimmen, ist die Verwendung der Naturführer-App Snappit.

Was ist der/die/das länge von Round-Leaved St John'S-Wort?

5-20 cm

Was ist der/die/das lebenserwartung von Round-Leaved St John'S-Wort?

3-10 Jahre

Was frisst Round-Leaved St John'S-Wort?

As a photosynthetic plant, it produces its own energy using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water while absorbing essential minerals from limestone soils.

Wo findet man Round-Leaved St John'S-Wort normalerweise?

Found in damp limestone rock crevices, mountain scree slopes, and shaded alpine cliffs.