Thicket/St Andrews Cross

COMMON NAME: St. Andrew’s Cross

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): St. Peter’s Wort, Peterwort

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Hypericum stragulum

FAMILY: Clusiaceae

COMMUNITY: Edge

STATUS: Native

LIFESPAN: Woody shrub

HEIGHT: 4 to 12 inches

FLOWERING TIME: July to August

FRUITING TIME: July to August

DISTRIBUTION: Long Island to Georgia & west to Texas and Kansas

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Prostrate or curved base and erect branches, numerous branches forming mat or mound ~ Leaves oblong or lance shaped  ~ Petals form a cross resembling St. Andrew’s cross 

GENERAL INFORMATION: The Clusiaceae family commonly called the Mangosteen or St. Johnswort Family consists of 47 genera and 1,350 species of herbs, shrubs, lianas and trees.  The North American genera belong to the subfamily Hypericoideae.  Mangosteen is the fruit of the tropical Garcinia mangostana.  Another family member is Manny-Apple, Mammea americana.  Members of the family also provide timber, pharmaceuticals, dyes, gums, pigments, resins and oilseeds. The four petals form an oblique cross like that of Saint Andrew the Apostle, patron saint of Scotland, Russia and Greece.  Saint Andrew was the elder brother of Saint Peter and also a fisherman.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.