Hypericum calycinum L., Hypericaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  yes

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  yes

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Aaron's beard, rose of Sharon

French: millepertuis à grandes fleurs

Habit:  shrub

Description:  "Glabrous, evergreen subshrub, lacking black glands; aerial stems to 50-(80) cm tall; rhizomes stout, reddish, forming dense colonies. Shoots 4-angled, with 2 prominent raised lines. Leaves subsessile, 3-10 x 1.2-3 cm (leaves at base of aerial shoots often smaller), ± elliptic, glaucous below; base broad-cuneate to rounded; apex obtuse. Flowers solitary or in cymes of 2-3; peduncles short, terminal. Sepals unequal, strongly imbricate, eglandular, entire, ± accrescent; outer sepals c. 1 cm in diameter, ± orbicular; inner sepals c. 1.5 cm long, oblong. Corolla 7-9 cm diam., bright yellow; petals obovate, ± patent, asymmetric, much > sepals. Stamens in 5 bundles, nearly = corolla. Styles 5, > ovary. Capsule 1-2 cm long, ovoid, dry. Seeds c. 1.5-2 mm long, broad-cylindric, reticulate, mostly abortive"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 539).

Habitat/ecology:  "Grassland, forest edges, disturbed sites.  A drought-resistant and fire-tolerant species that forms dense colonies due to the extensively creeping rhizomes.  It impedes the growth and regeneration of native shrubs and trees by competing for nutrients and space.  The plant establishes readily after disturbances"  (Weber, 2003; p. 209).  In New Zealand, "around cemeteries and old gardens.  A popular ground-cover species in parks, domains and gardens, and is now commonly planted in median highway strips and traffic islands. Its tough, densely-veined leaves tolerate extreme conditions of exposure and pollution"  (Webb et al., 1988; p. 539).

Propagation:  Seed and rhizomes  (Weber, 2003; p. 209).

Native range:  Turkey and Bulgaria; cultivated and naturalized elsewhere (GRIN).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced invasive cultivated	Atkinson, Rachel/Sawyer, John (2011)
Chile (offshore islands) Juan Fernández Islands	Isla Más a Tierra (Robinson Crusoe Island)	introduced cultivated	Danton, Philippe/Perrier, Christophe/Martinez Reyes, Guido (2006) (pp. 486, 532, 554) Voucher cited: Danton I(5/203)1548. "Hasta el momento, está solamente presente en RC en un único jardine del pueblo de San Juan Bautista.  Pero si venia a naturalizarse (lo que no parece imposible), se transformará sin duda en un temible enemigo".

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced invasive cultivated	U.S. Dept. Agr., Agr. Res. Serv. (2013) Tasmania, Victoria Naturalized
New Zealand New Zealand	New Zealand (country)	introduced invasive cultivated	Webb, C. J./Sykes, W. R./Garnock-Jones, P. J. (1988) (p. 539)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Oregon)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (California)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)
United States (west coast) United States (west coast states)	USA (Washington)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	introduced	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013) Tennessee

Control: 

Physical:  "Seedlings and small plants can be pulled or dug out.  Rhizomes must be removed to prevent regrowth".

Chemical:  "Larger plants can be dug out or cut and the cut stumps treated with herbicide"  (Weber, 2003; p. 209).