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September 30, 2009 : Hypericum uralum
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Plant Family / Families: Hypericaceae
Scientific Name and Author: Hypericum uralum Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don
Institution: University of California Botanical Garden, Berkeley
Name Location: Berkeley, California, USA
Thank you to James Gaither in San Francisco for submitting today's Botany Photo of the Day (Original Image | Botany Photo of the Day Flickr Pool)!
Lindsay Bourque writes:
Hypericum, the genus to which this species belongs, has been used for centuries as a herbal remedy documented in Aulus Cornelius Celsus' (circa 25 BC- 50 CE) De Medicina. Known in English by its common name, St. John's Wort, it is used for its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Contemporary pharmacology has isolated two compounds, hyperforin and hypericin, which are used to treat mild depression. Interestingly, in ancient Greece Hypericum was hung above pictures to ward off evil spirits (hyper-above and eikon-a picture). However, its effectiveness as an anti-depressant is still debatable and has a number of known side-effects, such as photosensitivity.
Posted by Eric La Fountaine at September 30, 2009 7:00 AM
Comments
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Posted by: Er.We at September 30, 2009 9:25 AM
Thanks very much for honoring me by inclusion of my image in BPotD--and thanks to Er.We for your comment.
Unfortunately, my original image has undergone horizontal stretching that has rather badly distorted the proportions of the subject matter. Anyone interested should click on the link to the original image beneath the version above. Thanks, again.
Posted by: James Gaither at September 30, 2009 10:18 AM
Hey James,
The image was placed in the wrong sized frame. Sorry for that. I have corrected the problem, so the image is no longer stretched.
Posted by: Eric La Fountaine 
at September 30, 2009 10:36 AM
James, I went back and forth between the BPotD picture and your original version and from my admittedly not-a-professional eye, the BPotD picture doesn't appear too different. I think the distortion is not as significant as you fear. Great picture, though. This blog ALWAYS brings me a few moments of pleasure each day and I save almost all of the pictures so they become part of my rotating screen saver.
Posted by: Brandy at September 30, 2009 10:38 AM
Ah, Eric had fixed the picture by the time I was comparing it to the original; no wonder it didn't look distorted!
Posted by: Brandy at September 30, 2009 10:41 AM
What a lovely photo- focus, composition, beauty. Thank you!
Posted by: Connie at September 30, 2009 1:25 PM
Lovely photo - big enough to really see, but not so big as to give rise to wondering what the entire flower looks like!
This is the kind of photo that pleases me so much.
Posted by: annie Morgan at September 30, 2009 1:41 PM
A simply stunning pic. Thank you
Posted by: Sheila at September 30, 2009 2:58 PM
Cute flower. Interesting info too.
A great reminder for me to visit the Berkley Botanical Garden soon.
Posted by: Cambree at September 30, 2009 3:45 PM
theaskaboutireland site has
really interesting write up
seems st columcille carried a packet
under his arm as protection against
his tussles with demons
also used as protection from fairy blight
the folk lore stories are great reading
the photo looks like a painting thank you
Posted by: elizabeth a airhart at September 30, 2009 4:53 PM
A number of side effects? Photosensitivity can be an issue in some individuals and it shouldn't be taken with SSRI drugs -- other than that, it is very safe, and as an herbalist I find it quite effective in some individuals when taken for mild depression over a period of time. It's important to match the plant to the person... not the illness. St. John's Wort is also a very effective vulnerary when used topically, meaning it's a great wound healer. Also good for treating ulcers.
Posted by: Cheryl Fromholzer at September 30, 2009 7:34 PM
My grandmother was prescribed St. John's Wort tea when she was taking pain classes in conjunction with her cancer treatments years ago. She gave me some to try. Although I liked the taste, I experienced mild headaches when I drank it. Hopefully the medicinal properties of this useful plant can be separated from the more "toxic" ones by our biochemist colleagues in the near future.
Posted by: AJ at October 1, 2009 1:54 AM
Beautiful picture!!! I loved it
Posted by: Smita at October 1, 2009 3:05 AM
Please share your comments about the photograph(s) and accompanying write-up. Telling a story about the subject of the photograph(s) is also much appreciated! If you have a gardening question, the best place to ask is on the UBC Botanical Garden Forums. Thank you!
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Botany Photo of the Day and associated images by UBC Botanical Garden staff are licensed under a Creative Commons License. Images and text by non-UBC contributors are copyright the respective photographers / authors (but often have Creative Commons licenses if contributed via Flickr).
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Botany Photo of the Day is a project of the UBC Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research, located in Vancouver, British Columbia Canada. UBC BGCPR is a department of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems within The University of British Columbia.
an excellent shot of a jolly plant (they all are, the hypericums, at least for me)