3. Hypericum drummondii (Grev. & Hook.) Torr. & A. Gray (nits and lice)
Sarothra
drummondii Grev. &
Hook.
Pl. 360 d–f; Map
1563
Plants annuals, with
taproots, usually with numerous ascending branches. Stems 10–40(–80) cm long,
erect, angled or slightly ridged below each leaf toward the tip, with minute,
yellowish brown to dark green or black resinous dots, green to reddish brown,
sometimes turning orangish brown with age, sometimes peeling in thin strips
with age. Leaves not jointed at the base, strongly ascending. Leaf blades 5–22
mm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide, linear, needlelike, bluntly to sharply pointed at the
tip, tapered or narrowed at the base, the margins somewhat rolled under at
maturity, somewhat leathery in texture, with 1 main vein visible, the surfaces
with minute, yellowish brown to dark green or black resinous dots, the upper
surface green, the undersurface usually somewhat paler, but not glaucous.
Inflorescences of mostly solitary flowers in the leaf axils, sometimes with
small, loose clusters of 3 or 5 flowers at the branch tips. Flowers
actinomorphic. Sepals 5, all more or less similar in size and shape, 3–7 mm
long, not becoming enlarged at fruiting, narrowly lanceolate to narrowly
oblong-lanceolate, with minute, yellowish brown to black dots, lines, and/or
streaks. Petals 5, 4–7 mm long, oblong-obovate, orangish yellow, withered and
inconspicuous but usually persistent at fruiting. Stamens 10–22, the filaments
sometimes irregularly spaced but usually not fused into groups. Ovary
1-locular, with parietal placentation. Styles 3, free above the base, more or
less spreading, the stigmas capitate. Fruits 4.5–7.0 mm long, at maturity as
long as or slightly longer than the sepals, narrowly ovoid, widest slightly
below the midpoint, tapered to the persistent styles, more or less circular in
cross-section. Seeds numerous, 0.9–1.1 mm long, the surface with a coarse
network of ridges and pits, light brown to dark brown. 2n=24. June–September.
Scattered nearly
throughout the southern half of the state and in the eastern portion of the
Glaciated Plains Division (eastern U.S. west to Iowa, Kansas, and Texas). Glades,
upland prairies, ledges and tops of bluffs, openings of dry upland forest,
savannas, and less commonly banks of streams; also fallow fields and old
fields, on acidic substrates.