Wavy St John's-wort
Hypericum undulatum
Family: Hypericaceae
Fire effect on plant
Unclear from the literature. Below-ground organs may survive low severity burns.
Key traits
This is an herbaceous rhizomatous perennial.
Seeds of this species can be persistent in the soil (Stroh and Robson, 2020). This species lacks any specific dispersal features, with dispersal distance being short (1–5 m; Lososová et al, 2023).
Plant response to fire
St John’s-wort is a nationally rare species, being found in southwestern England and Wales. Populations of wavy St Johns-wort are reported to increase following reinstatement of grazing or burning in overgrown sites, although this regeneration is from resprouting individuals or from seedling establishment is unclear. Managing populations of the species in grasslands involves grazing in the summer and occasional burning in the winter (Stroh & Robson, 2020).
Timing of life history
Perennial species. Seeds likely produced from second growing season. Flowering late spring to early summer.
Conservation status
None.
References
Lososová Z., Axmanová I., Chytrý M., Midolo G., Abdulhak S., Karger D.N., Renaud J., Van Es J., Vittoz P. & Thuiller W. 2023. Seed dispersal distance classes and dispersal modes for the European flora. Global Ecology and Biogeography, 32(9), 1485–1494 [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]
Stroh PA and Robson NKB (2020) Hypericum undulatum Schousb. ex Willd. in BSBI Online Plant Atlas 2020, eds P.A. Stroh, T. A. Humphrey, R.J. Burkmar, O.L. Pescott, D.B. Roy, & K.J. Walker. https://plantatlas2020.org/atlas/2cd4p9h.594 [Accessed 07/03/2024] [Empirical evidence; Academic literature]