Editing Hypericum perforatum (section)

{{Short description|Flowering plant in the St John's wort family Hypericaceae}}
{{Redirect|St John's wort}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Saint John's wort flowers.jpg
| genus = Hypericum
| parent = Hypericum sect. Hypericum
| species = perforatum
| authority = [[Carl Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Subspecies
| subdivision = *''H. p.'' ssp. ''perforatum''
*''H. p.'' ssp. ''songaricum''{{break}}{{small|(Ledeb. ex Rchb.) N.Robson}}
*''H. p.'' ssp. ''veronense''{{break}}{{small|(Ledeb. ex Rchb.) N.Robson}}
*''H. p.'' ssp. ''chinense''{{break}}{{small|(Schrank) H.Lindb.}}
| synonyms = *''H. officinale'' {{small|Gaterau}}
*''H. officinarum'' {{small|Crantz}}
*''H. vulgare'' {{small|Lam.}}
}}'''''Hypericum perforatum''''', commonly known as '''St. John's wort''' (sometimes '''perforate St. John's wort''' or '''common St. John's wort'''), is a [[flowering plant]] in the family [[Hypericaceae]].  It is a hairless, [[Perennial|perennial herb]] with woody [[Root|roots]], yellow [[Flower|flowers]] marked by black glands, and leaves that appear [[Perforation|perforated]] due to [[translucent]] glands, producing thousands of seeds per plant. 

''H. perforatum'' is the type species of its [[genus]], known for its historical use in [[folklore]] and [[traditional medicine]]. Probably a [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] between the closely related ''[[Hypericum attenuatum|H. attenuatum]]'' and ''[[Hypericum maculatum|H. maculatum]]'' (imperforate St. John's wort) that originated in [[Siberia]], the species has [[Cosmopolitan distribution|spread worldwide]]. It can further hybridize with related species due to its [[Polyploidy|allopolyploid]] nature. It is native to much of Europe, [[West Asia|West]] and [[Central Asia]], and parts of Africa and China and has been widely introduced elsewhere, thriving in well-drained, [[Temperate climate|temperate]] habitats such as meadows, hillsides, and open woods with moderate rainfall and mild temperatures. It is a resilient, [[Toxicity|toxic]], and [[Invasive species|invasive]] plant that [[Sexual reproduction|reproduces sexually]] and vegetatively, supports specialized insect [[Herbivore|herbivores]], suffers from [[Plant disease|plant diseases]], and poses ecological and agricultural threats in many parts of the world.

''H. perforatum'' has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, especially for treating [[Wound|wounds]] and [[Depression (mood)|depression]]. To prepare it for use, the oil from its glands can be extracted or its above-ground parts can be dried and ground into a powder called ''herba hyperici''. ''H. perforatum'' exhibits [[antidepressant]] effects comparable to drugs with fewer [[Side effect|side effects]] for mild to moderate depression (for which it is approved in the European Union only); however, it may interact with various medications by accelerating their metabolism.