Family: St. Johnswort alien
Season: summer

Last Update: 28Apr98

(Jul-96; Curtis Rd.)

(Jun-96; Mom/Dad)

(Jul-96; Montezuma WR; Mom/Dad)

Common St. Johnswort

Common flower along roadsides and fields. Small, paired, oval leaves with translucent dots on stalky stems. Yellow 5-petaled blooms with long stamens (common to most St. Johnsworts, typically exaggerated in ornamental varieties). Common St. Johnswort flowers have black dots on margins of the petals, which may not always be noticeable. Weedy growth. The long blooming period means some flowers are usually going to seed while new ones bloom - contributing to weedy appearance.

Recent revival in the use of Common St. Johnswort in herbal medicine, particularily when used as anti-depressant. Additional herbal properties such as improving the quality of (deep) sleep, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and other uses. Also an ingredient used by bakers to "improve the quality of bread".

As far as folk mythologies, sleeping with a piece of St. Johnswort under your pillow on St. John's Eve would protect you during the following year.

The relationship between St. John's Wort and its namesake is a result of the onset blossums occurring around June 24th, St. John's Day, and the release of the red colored oil from the flowers occurring around August 29th, the anniversay the martyredoom of St. John.