Montane, subalpine. Wet areas. Summer.
Haviland Lake Trail, June 28, 2004.

This slim and unobtrusive plant, often hidden in the lushness of wet areas, is most easily found when it is in bloom, for the flowers are very bright.  Leaves are short and opposite.  The plant grows to be about a foot tall.

This is a close relative of the noxious weed (and widely sold supplement which is a supposed mood enhancer), Hypericum perforatum which has caused massive agricultural damage and in the past few decades has severely invaded Colorado.  H. perforatum also has been the subject of a number of National Institutes of Health studies revealing its dangerous affects on human health.

Linnaeus gave the genus name "Hypericum" which is the ancient Greek name for the plant (it is a European invader in the United States).  "Formosum" is Latin for "graceful, beautiful". 

The family name most commonly recognized now is Clusiaceae, given by John Llindley and the specific epithet most commonly accepted is "scouleri", given by Hooker in 1831 from a specimen collected by J. Scouleri in 1825, "Abundant on dry gravelly soils and limestone rocks on the North-West coast of America". (Quotation and information from Intermountain Flora.)  (More biographical information about Scouler.)

Montane, subalpine. Wet areas. Summer.
Haviland Lake Trail, June 28, 2004.

Numerous stamens are upright in freshly opened flowers but relax into a lovely starburst as the flower ages. 

Montane, subalpine. Wet areas. Summer.
Haviland Lake Trail, June 28, 2004.

Range map © John Kartesz,
Floristic Synthesis of North America

State Color Key

Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state

County Color Key

Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Native species, but adventive in state
Eradicated
Questionable presence

Range map for Hypericum formosum (Hypericum scouleri)