# Tutsan (*Hypericum androsaemum*) Tutsan is a special plant with bright yellow flowers that bloom in summer. It grows in sunny places and can be found in woods and fields. Its berries are red and can be seen in the fall! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Woodlands and fields ![Tutsan](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Hypericum_androsaemum_-_Habit.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Hypericum_androsaemum_-_Habit.jpg) ## Appearance The Tutsan is a leafy shrub with oval, green leaves often tinged red. It has bright yellow, star-shaped flowers that develop into distinctive berries, changing from green to red, then finally to shiny black. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Hypericaceae - **Genus:** Hypericum ## Interesting facts - In autumn, Tutsan leaves turn beautiful shades of purple, orange, and bronze! - Its old French name, "Toute-saine," means "all-heal," hinting at ancient uses! - The shiny berries aren't true botanical berries, but fleshy capsules full of seeds! - Tutsan leaves release a faint, resinous aroma when crushed, like a sweet amber! ## Special abilities - **Berry Beacon:** Tutsan's berries change from green to red then black, signaling to birds when they are ripe and ready to disperse seeds. - **See-Through Leaves:** Tutsan leaves have tiny translucent dots, making them look 'perforated' when held to the light, a unique family feature. - **Shade Dweller:** Tutsan can grow well in woodlands and damp, shady spots, thriving where many other plants struggle for light. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-100 cm - **Spread:** 50-100 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits flowers for nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) — Consumes ripe berries, dispersing seeds widely. - **Eats:** Grove snail (*Cepaea nemoralis*) — Grazes on the leaves and young stems. - **Pollinates:** Marmalade hoverfly (*Syrphus ribesii*) — Feeds on nectar and aids in pollination. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Medicinal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/medicinal): Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not eat any berries or plants without asking an adult first. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Tutsan? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Tutsan? 50-100 cm ### How wide does Tutsan spread? 50-100 cm ### How big are the flowers on Tutsan? 2-3 cm ### When does Tutsan bloom? Summer ### Is Tutsan edible? No ### Is Tutsan toxic? Mild ### What is Tutsan's lifecycle? Perennial ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Tutsan: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tutsan)