Hypericum formosanum Maxim.

The long sepals easily distinguish Hypericum formosanum from all other species in H. sect. Takasagoya except H. nakamurae, which has larger flowers and elliptic to obovate leaves.

Shrubs, ca. 22 cm tall; branches spreading and arching. Stems 4-lined and ancipitous when young, soon 2-lined to terete; internodes 1.5-6 cm, usually shorter than leaves. Leaves sessile or with petiole to 1 mm; blade ovate or elliptic to oblong-elliptic, 2-6 × 1.1-2.9 cm, subleathery, abaxially paler but not glaucous; laminar glands dots, prominent; abaxial glands absent; main lateral veins 1- or 2-paired, the upper forming intramarginal vein, tertiary reticulation very faint or invisible; base cuneate to rounded, apex subacute to rounded. Inflorescence 1-3-flowered, terminal, and 1- or 2-flowered on subsidiary branches from up to 7(-10) nodes below, the whole cylindric; bracts leaflike, bracteoles narrowly elliptic, subpersistent. Pedicels 5-10 mm. Flowers 2.5-3.5 cm in diam., stellate to very shallowly cupped; buds ± broadly ovoid, apex subacute to obtuse. Sepals very slightly connate, erect in bud, ascending in fruit, subequal to unequal, lanceolate or narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate or elliptic-ovate, 7-10 × 1.5-6 mm, laminar glands lines and dots, margin entire, apex acute to subacute. Petals golden yellow, obovate, (1-)1.3-1.7(-2) × 0.8-1.2 cm, ca. 2 × as long as sepals, eglandular, margin entire, apiculus very short, rounded. Stamen fascicles each with 25-40 stamens, longest 0.8-1.2 cm, ca. 0.7 × as long as petals. Ovary ovoid to subglobose, 3-4.5 × 3-3.5 mm; styles (6.5-)7-8(-8.5) mm, 1.5-2.5 × as long as ovary; stigmatic mass subglobose. Capsule broadly ovoid, 8-9 × ca. 6 mm. Seeds 1-2 mm, with apical expansion; testa ?linear-reticulate. Fl. Apr-Aug, fr. ?May-Sep.

N Taiwan (Taibei).

● On well-drained banks or in stony areas; sea level to 500 m.

Takasagoya formosana (Maximowicz) Y. Kimura.