Hypericum androsaemum

Hypericum androsaemum, also referred to as Tutsan, Shrubby St. John's Wort, or sweet-amber, is a flowering plant in the family Hypericaceae. It is a perennial shrub reaching up to 70 cm in height, native to open woods and hillsides in Eurasia.

Tutsan comes from the French toute-sain meaning all heal due to its medicinal uses. This berry producing shrub is common in the Mediterranean basin where it has been traditionally used as diuretic and hepatoprotective herb. In the Portuguese ethno-medicine, the plant is locally known as ‘Hipericão do Gerês’ and it used as diuretic, hepato protective and antidepressant. In Spain, the infusion of the flowering aerial parts is used as an antidepressive and anxiolytic. In England, tutsan ointment is used to dress cuts and wounds.[citation needed] The berries turn from white/green, to red, to black. According to Shepherd (2004) all parts of the plant, particularly the fruit, are toxic due to the presence of hypericin, causing nausea and diarrhoea in humans, however, several studies carried out to specifically detect hypericin in tutsan have produced negative results (Rees 1969; Kitanov 2001; Maggi et al. 2004). On the other hand, Tutsan berries contain numerous organic biologically active compounds.

Hypericum androsaemum is a small shrub growing to 70 cm high. The stamens are about as long as the petals, of which it has 5.

Hypericum androsaemum - Wikipedia