Weedy Wednesday - St John's Wort

Description:
Erect, about 700 mm tall perennial herb or small shrub with sprays of golden yellow, 5 petaled, 20 mm round, daisy like flowers in spring and early summer. It also reproduces from rhizomes and persistent root stocks. The leaves are opposite, light green with many translucent oil glands.
As A Soil Indicator:
Very low Calcium, Very low Potassium, Very high Phosphorous, Very high Magnesium, High Iron, High Copper, High Selenium, High Aluminum  Very little organic matter,  High Salt, , Prefers untilled but loose soils
Life cycle: 
Perennial. The plant reproduces from seed and vegetatively from underground rhizomes. Seeds germinate in the warmer months from October to March. They tend to remain vegetative and flower in their second season. Flowering stems emerge in spring, grow vigorously, and flower in summer. As the fruit capsule matures, the flowers turn brown and the leaves turn yellow in autumn as new shoots appear at the base of the plant. The old stems die off over winter but may remain standing for several months. 
Beneficial:
Used as an antidepressant in herbal medicine. Source of red and yellow dyes. Herbal tea for melancholy. Ornamental. 
Detrimental:
Fire hazard in plantations. Relatively unpalatable. Taints milk.
Affects fleece quality and causes vegetable fault. Toxic.
Toxicity:
Toxic to horses, sheep, cattle and goats. Horses are most sensitive and goats least sensitive. Causes contact dermatitis in people. Both leaves and flowers may be toxic
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