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St.John's Wort


St.John's Wort
Photo Information
Copyright: Francine Malo (NinaM) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 566 W: 0 N: 1388] (4593)
Genre: Plants
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07-02
Categories: Flowers
Camera: Panasonic DMC TZ4
Exposure: f/3.3, 1/30 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-07-08 11:19
Viewed: 555
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Please note, PaulH (Paul Haynes) underlined the fact that this plant was introduced in North America and that you find in Wikipedia a note saying that aboriginal people used it as abortive... which doesn't really make sense. That would have to be checked out and I haven't read anywhere alese about that use... except that some animals could abort after eating this plant. Sources are not always "true" and please read that with a hint of criticism. Thank you!

I am back and will comment your pictures during the day as I see that I missed quite a few good shots!

My post today is a plant that I grow in my garden, a perennial that is also indigenous in Quebec, St.John's Wort, that many of you probably already know. As I don't want to give you bad information, I am not sure about the precise species that I grow but the medicinal plant that is well known is Hypericum Perforatum, called St.John's Wort, followed without any other name.

Introduced from Europe, this highly branched perennial is the most common St.John's Wort. In many of the western states of the US it is considered a noxious weed because it can cause photodermatitis in animals that graze on it. The common name of these species and of the family derives from the fact that the flowers are said to bloom on Saint John's Eve, June 24.

St.John's Wort family (Hypericaceae) flowers in branched clusters and leaves usually covered with numerous often black or transulucent dots. There are 8 genera and about 400 species, found in temperate and tropical regions. Some are grown as ornamentals. Many species have leaves with translucent dots; when held up to the light, these appear as tiny pinholes. This family is sometimes combined with the Clusiaceae (also known as Guttiferae), a tropical family of mostly trees and shrubs. (Information reproduced from the National Audubon Society, "Field Guide to Wildflowers, Eastern Region").

The medicinal use of this plant goes back to the Ancient Greece. It is now used to treat depression in its mild form and must not be taken with other medicines without the advice of a health practitioners who is well advised, because St.John's Wort active substances can counteract some medication.

I love to grow that flower, because first of all it is a beautiful plant. It grows underneath the big apple tree, in the shade. It prefers sandy soils and you can find the indigenous plant all along the road sides.

It gives a small red fruit and the parts use to treat depression are the leaves and flowers, either in tinctures or capsules, most of the time.

It is also said to photosensitize the person using it but some others say it does very seldom affect someone. How are we to know amidst all this information?!!!

This plant was said to ward off evil and it has probably a link with the fact that it flowers around St.Johns, June 24, which corresponds to the Summer Solstice festivities... Native People used this plant as an abortive substance.

As usual, with medicinal plants, always be very careful of what you plan to use, get the information or better still, the advice of a doctor or therapist used to work with plants. Some substances found in plants are very toxic or counteract strongly with something you might be using.

The pharmacopy is fantastic and so diverse and I really am fascinated by the fact that all we need to heal ourselves may be found in plants. I have read that some people are now studying animals and monkeys using plants to heal, among them the chimpanzees. They seem to have a knowledge of which plants to use when they get some diseases.

So here is one of these plants, to be used carefully yet a friend and a soothing presence in our gardens and prairies.

Have a good day!

Francine
Shot at ISO 400
Slightly cropped and resized for TN in Photoshop Elements

FROM WIKIPEDIA:

St John's wort (pronounced IPA: /sɪndʒənsˈwɝt/) used alone refers to the species Hypericum perforatum, also known as Tipton's Weed or Klamath weed, but, with qualifiers, is used to refer to any species of the genus Hypericum. Therefore, H. perforatum is sometimes called Common St John's wort to differentiate it. The species of Hypericum have been placed by some in the family Hypericaceae, but more recently have been included in the Clusiaceae. Approximately 370 species of the genus Hypericum exist worldwide with a native geographical distribution

The plant

Hypericum perforatum is a yellow-flowering, rhizomatous, perennial herb indigenous to Europe, which has been introduced to the Americas and grows wild in many meadows. The common name comes from its traditional flowering and harvesting on St John's day, 24 June. The genus name Hypericum is derived from the Greek words hyper and eikon, in reference to the traditional use of the plant to ward off evil, by hanging plants over a picture in the house during St John's day. The species name perforatum refers to the presence of small oil glands in the leaves that look like windows, which can be seen when they are held against the light.

Although Hypericum perforatum is grown commercially in some regions of south east Europe, it is listed as a noxious weed in more than twenty countries. In pastures, St John’s wort acts as both a toxic and invasive weed. It replaces useful vegetation to the extent of making productive land unviable or acts as an alien species in natural ecosystems. Ingestion by livestock can cause photosensitization, central nervous system depression, spontaneous abortion, and can lead to death. Effective herbicides for control of Hypericum include 2,4-D, picloram, and glyphosate. In western North America three beetles Chrysolina quadrigemina, Chrysolina hyperici and Agrilus hyperici have been introduced as biocontrol agents.

(More to be found on Wikipedia's site)
nglen, gracious, CatherineD, CeltickRanger, Jamesp, boreocypriensis, jaycee, eqshannon, jeanpaul, oanaotilia, Alex99, mayuresh, uleko, mala-zaba, Pitoncle, goldyrs, gerbilratz, writerscrawlz, Miss_Piggy, ramthakur, marhowie, claudine, iris, hester has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To PaulH: Introduced by EuropeansNinaM 1 07-13 06:45
To CatherineD: Contre-indicationNinaM 1 07-08 18:39
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1993 W: 5 N: 5571] (21050)
  • [2008-07-08 11:51]

Hi Francine . Firstly thanks for the interesting notes about the plant. which you have captured with good detail and rich colours. well done TFS.
Nick..

Bonjour Francine,
A great presentation of this beautiful plant with a great notes about them!
I loved the soft and gentle lighting in the image with total sharpness, very nice colour and details over it
well done and many thanks
best regards
Tony

Salut Francine,
Très joli composition avec une bonne maîtrise de la lumière. Pas facile avec le jaune qui est souvent surexposé. Note intéressante.
Le millepertuis est bien connu comme antidépresseur, notamment en Allemagne où il est l'antidépresseur le plus prescrit. A en croire certains sites, il semble qu'il n'y ait pas de risques d'effets indésirables aux doses prescrites (voir ici par ex).
Amicalement,
Catherine

bonjour Francine

belle image de ce fleur avec un excellent POV et DOF,
superbe saturation des couleurs, j'aime le contraste
entre les tons des couleurs jaunes et des couleurs vertes, TFS

Asbed

Bonjour Grancine,
très jolie photo toute en couleurs, très bon focus et excellente composition,
bravo
amitiés,
Pat

  • Great 
  • Jamesp Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1252 W: 0 N: 4842] (14380)
  • [2008-07-08 14:03]

Hi Francine

Alovely shot - I like the way that the yellow flower seems to 'burst' out of the greenery.

JAmes

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1788 W: 8 N: 4639] (15001)
  • [2008-07-08 16:02]

Hi Francine,

I have known about St. John's wort but never saw the flower before. It is very beautiful and quite unique looking. Your picture is excellent with wonderful colors and superb details. It has a 3 dimensional looks and is gorgeous against the green leaves.

Jane

Wow! What a wonderful informational and identifying post!!! We used this many times in the wilderness in oil...I think it is called essentialist...and it works in herbal health care but I have never seen a picture worth looking at...You do me a favor here...and you also bring back some strong feelings about my way of health care...Nicely done!
Bob

Bonjour Francine
C'est un merveilleux macro et les couleurs de ces fleurs sont très jolies ,les détails et la composition sont supers.

Merci et au revoir....JP

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3043 W: 148 N: 4547] (14679)
  • [2008-07-08 23:56]

Hi Francine.
The pictured plant is amazing as well as the quality of the image. I am impressed with vibrant colors of the image, terrific details and sharpness of all fine features of the plant. You managed to create a true three-dimensional image. Well done and best wishes.
Alexei.

Hi Francine,
A perfectly focused and detailed macro capture of this splendid flower. Great vivid colours my friend! I also liked the framing and composition. TFS this beauty.
Cheers,

Bayram

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2468 W: 168 N: 7464] (23588)
  • [2008-07-09 4:39]

Hello Francine,
Beautiful close-up of this species of Hypericum. The details are very sharp and colours wonderful. I have one with very large flowers flowering in our garden just now.
A very nicely composed image.
Many thanks, Ulla

Hello Francine,
very beautiful shot with intresting note,superb composition and pov, wonderful lighting and sharpness with lovely colours,
very well done,
tfs

Salut Francine,
Belle composition et de lumière douce. Ce qui fait bien ressortir la fleur jaune. La DOF utilisée fait bien ressortir la fleur du feuillage.
Merci du partage,
Eric

Bonjour Francine,
Belle composition, bien agencée et bien éclairée, dans laquelle la finesse des détails s'associe à la délicatesse des couleurs pour le plus grand plaisir visuel.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

Beautiful shot, sorry can't pen the note I'd like to, Francine, the comp's got a virus, and the techie's not oome in still!
Goldy

Hello Francine, this is really good, such clear well focused and sharp images. The detail is excellent, composition is well done, fine work. regards h

P/S..pts 2morrow.

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1033 W: 26 N: 2998] (10820)
  • [2008-07-09 8:47]
  • [+]

Hi Francine,
very striking image, well composed with excellent contrast. Interesting to hear that the Native Americans used this, yet it was introduced from Europe...
tfs
Paul

  • Great 
  • hains (449)
  • [2008-07-09 17:15]

L`image est digne exprimant bien les vertus de l`hypericum perforatum.

La fleur avec ses pistils est comblée de beauté.

Mario

Thanks for the terrific information. I love the composition of this - the colors are rich, dynamic, even. The contrasting colors immediately caught my attention and I find your knowledge amazing. I know they've used plants for centuries, but I'm constantly surprised at how little I know, and notes like yours are not only informative, but they are also interesting.

Hallo Francine
A beautiful yellow flower portrait. A very delightful view with fine details to appreciate. Yellow is definitely a very attractive and sunny colour and just looking at this image brightens ones day. This is a splendid shot. I really like the simple composition with only a few specs of other colours in between. A lovely close-up which I enjoyed looking at. Thanks for sharing and have a most enjoyable day.
Anna

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2008-07-12 22:07]

Hello Francine

Just marking the post for now

Rob

Though you are a landscape artist basically, I was drawn by the flower pictures you posted recently.
This one was my first choice because the colors stand out even in the thumbnail view.
The full version is a sheer delight to look at.
Wonderful composition with bright saturated colors.
I love it!
Regards,
Ram

Hi Francine,
Very beautiful flower for its interesting color & structure/design.
Excellent POV and comp showing the blossom and bud side by side..
Very good exposure, DOF, colors, clarity, and details also.
Well done & have a great Sunday!
Howard

Salut Francine,
Qu'elle belle photo intéressante! C'est la première fois que je vois du Millpertuis! C'est une belle composition, bien détaillée avec de superbes teintes de couleurs. Les notes sont aussi très intéressantes. Je ne fais pas beaucoup de photo ces temps-ci par manque de temps et je trouve ça dommage. Je n'ai pas beaucoup de moments libres pour me promener non plus mais j'aimerais bien en effet visiter ton coin de pays un jour :) Bon dimanche sous la pluie!
Claudine

I'm taking a look to your album now Francine. This is a fantastic shot! Very well focused. Great composition. Superb colours and great contrast of them. Nice sharpness too!
Tfs
Ilias

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1471 W: 18 N: 2981] (10944)
  • [2008-07-17 11:33]

Hi Francine

I have only seen this in capsule form at the health shop before now. Lovely bringht colours, sharp details and great POV. Great note...and your right Wikipedia is not always right

TFS

Karan

  • Great 
  • iris Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 392 W: 41 N: 735] (2314)
  • [2008-07-17 20:43]

Dear Francine,
What an amazing capture...I love the very structure of its petals and composition.It must be a joy to see them in bloom in your own garden.

Do you know these combinations you have here in the composition is a rich one oft seen in the famous Kanjeevram sarees women wear in India.Each colour-the overal green, thebright yellow, the ornage and even the little specks of violets seen at the tip of the stamen like feature all make wonderful combination of colours in these famous traditional wear taht is often a splash of bright radiant colours woven in silk.

And i am one for well saturated colours and the richness of them that life has to offer.That is also one of the reasons that i got easily attracted to your Wort scene here.

The one ijn fukll bloom is as attractives as the one about to bloom and begin its life.Fantastic PoV helping the viewer admire both of them and a Bg provided in the form of rich green foliage.Excellent colours and contrasts and good sharpness and clarity.

Very well done.
TFS & Cheers

Nice shot. The deep contrasting colours look very beautiful.

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