Species Factsheets
Hypericum stragulum
St. Andrew's Cross
State Status: N
PBS Status: Pennsylvania Rare (PR)
Federal Status:
Global Rank: G5T5
rank interpretation
State Rank: S3
Did You Know?
This species is distinctive for its spreading, four-petaled flowers that almost look like a dragonfly.
Description
St. Andrew's cross (Hypericum stragulum) is a low-growing, deciduous shrub with erect stems up to 30cm tall. The leaves are oppositely arranged, 2-3cm long, untoothed on the margin, oval or lance-shaped and usually widest above the middle, rounded at the tip and tapered toward the base. The flowers, appearing in July and August, are bright yellow and have four narrow petals, which are about 9mm long and configured in a cross-like pattern, and are subtended by two green sepals. The fruit is a many-seeded capsule.
Rank Justification
Vulnerable in the nation or state due to a restricted range, relatively few populations (often 80 or fewer), recent and widespread declines, or other factors making it vulnerable to extirpation.
PABS
The PA Biological Survey (PABS) considers St. Andrew's cross to be a species of special concern, based on the few occurrences that have been recently confirmed. It does not have a PA legal rarity status, but has been assigned a suggested rarity status of Threatened by PABS. About ten populations are currently known from the state.
Habitat
It grows in dryish, open places, such as grasslands, successional clearings, thickets, open woods, and serpentine barrens.
Survey Dates
Flowers July - August
Distribution
Threats
The populations of St. Andrew's cross in the state are threatened by human-related habitat loss, natural succession, invasive species, and indiscriminate application of herbicides.
Management
Given the preference of the species for open habitats, active management - such as fire, mowing, or invasive species removal - is often required to maintain the proper successional stage and ecological conditions for the species to thrive.
Conservation Status Map
NatureServe. 2017. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org.
http://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/hypericum/stragulum/
- NatureServe. 2018. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available at https://www.natureserve.org/explorer
- Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program. 2018.
- Rhoads, A.F. and W.M. Klein, Jr. 1993. The Vascular Flora of Pennsylvania. American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Rhoads, A.F. and T.A. Block.
- 2007. The Plants of Pennsylvania: An Illustrated Manual. 2nd edition. University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
