Hello everyone. I have a large number of this plant coming into bloom in my pasture and am wondering what it is. Would some be able to identify it? Thanks
Thanks, is does appear to be Hypericum tetrapetalum. It appears to be toxic to livestock which is too bad as it is all over the pasture.
It's interesting to read that it's only found in Florida and Georgia. Is it really this species that's toxic to livestock? I can't find that mentioned anywhere, though you no doubt have access to more specific information than I can find in a brief search. It's not listed in the University of Florida Toxic Plants List, written for animal owners and livestock managers. I see Hypericum perforatum listed in Poisonous Plants of the Southern United States. That's not to say these documents have listed every toxic plant, but it might be worth discussing with local experts (since it has such limited distribution) before trying to rid it from your pasture.
Yes, most of the articles are on Hypericum perforatum and from what I have read, after reading your post, Hypericum tetrapetalum contains far less hypericin and is not used for medicinal purposes. I also read that live stock will usually ignore it if the pasture is well managed and there is plenty of grass. I will contact my local extension service and see what they suggest. Thanks for the heads up. It is a very pretty plant.
