FIELD ID CHARACTERISTICS:
Leaf shape in this plant is distinctive among wetland plants.
Synonym(s): Hypericum petiolatum, Hypericum walteri, Tridenum petiolatum
Description: Shrub-like herb with elongated oval-shaped leaves and small pink 5-petaled flowers.
Leaves: Elliptic leaves with rounded tips and bases, about 5 to 7 cm long and distinct petioles a little over 0.5 cm long.
Flowers/Fruit: Tiny, pink, 5-petaled flowers on branch tips and bases of leaves. Fruits are elongated capsules. Flowers and fruits August and September.
Habit and Range: Found in partial shade in wet mud or soil of swamps, water body margins, marshes, and floodplain pools. Found statewide, but rare in the Mountains, uncommon in the Piedmont, and common in the Coastal Plain.
COMMON CONFUSIONS:
Triadenum walteri (greater marsh St. John's-wort) is similar to the less common Triadenum virginicum (Virginia marsh St. John's-wort) which also has pink, 5-petaled flowers, but T. walteri leaves have petioles, which are a little over 0.5 cm long. T. virginicum, leaves have no petioles, but are joined directly to the main stem. Leaves of T. virginicum tend to be shorter and wider at the base as well.
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