Fauna
Plant

Tutsan

Hypericum androsaemum

Also known as Sweet-amber, Shrubby St. John's Wort

Tutsan brightens damp woodland understories with saucer-shaped, buttercup-yellow blossoms crowned by fluffy tufts of stamens. Its broad, aromatic leaves sit opposite along winged stems and give off a distinctive sweet, camphor-like fragrance when crushed. Unlike most members of its genus that produce dry seed capsules, it yields fleshy, berry-like fruits that mature from scarlet red to glossy purplish-black by autumn.

WoodlandFloweringShrub
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthesis)
Predators
  • St. John's Wort Beetle
  • Chrysolina quadrigemina
ThreatsDeforestation in parts of its native range; managed as an invasive weed where introduced
HabitatsDamp deciduous woodlands, shady riverbanks, hedgerows, and rocky forest margins
Life span10–20 years
Classification
  1. OrderMalpighiales
  2. FamilyHypericaceae
  3. GenusHypericum
  4. SpeciesHypericum androsaemum
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Berries induce nausea if eaten, and wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat wild fruit.
Why it is dangerous
Contains hypericin and related polyphenolic compounds that cause gastrointestinal irritation, vomiting, and diarrhea if berries are swallowed.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for slightly woody, two-winged reddish stems with stalkless oval leaves and glossy berry-like capsules that shift from red to black.
What to do
Enjoy the flowers and foliage visually, and ensure children and pets do not consume the berries.
Responsible observation
  • Foliage scent: Gently brush the leaves to release their sweet, amber resin aroma.
  • Fruit observation: Watch the seed capsules transition through green, scarlet, and midnight black.
  • Garden care: Deadhead spent flowers in non-native regions to prevent invasive spread into native woods.
Related species
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