That doesn't look like a Hypericum to me - the stamen arrangement is wrong and the leaves don't appear to have the semi-transparent dots on them, but I'm not any sort of expert: I just had a garden full of the UK version for many years.

Maybe somebody here would know exactly what plant is that...?

I've been looking at it for some time - Hypericum is a very large group of plants, but nearly all have a sort of central boss in the middle of the flower with lots of filaments that stick out. This appears to have a different arrangement - are all the flowers like this in the centre? And how big does it get in terms of height and spread? Does it produce berries?

This does not remind me of any sort of hypericum. As far as I know they all have numerous small stamens. I don't recognise this plant; remeber that Jjulio lives in South Africa so the plant/shrub may not be hardy in Britain.

There are other groups of Hypericum which we don't see here in the UK which are native in Africa - one group has fused styles, but I'm finding it impossible to see any pics of any of them via Google.

This small tree eventually produces lots of roundish pods, not bigger than 8 cm, which change from green to dark brown almost black.
My wife is adamant that it is a variety of St John's wort.
I don't think so, but would love to know exactly what it is.
Shall I take another picture of the flower?
The tree/shrub does not grow too tall - maybe around a metre and a half or so.

It's about the right size and type of leaf, and at first glance it is the 'right' shade of yellow but I even tried a couple of private herbal medical sites and, like Bamboo, I couldn't find any hypericum with that stamen arrangement. On current evidence I also *think* 'no' but I have no idea what it is I'm afraid.

Oh, and I'd better add, although I am sure neither of you are daft enough, do not make tea out of it until you are sure.

The 'problem' with South Africa is the huge range of native plants, many of which are endemic. Is it possible to take a specimen or good photos to Johannesburg Botanic Garden who should be able to make an identification for you?

It's a member of the Senna subfamily of the Pea Family, but that still doesn't narrow it down much....Time for another picture safari!!

Is it Buttercup Bush Senna corymbosa ?
You could be a while Tug there are hundreds of them and a debate as to are they Senna or Cassia? botanists are saying they are not the same thing. I always thought they were.

A friend told me it could be a Cassia Senna.
What do you think?
If so, it has nothing to do with St John's wort, has it?
If it is, does it have any medicinal properties?

Looking at the pictures of Cassia Senna, (Cassia acutifolia Delile) then I think your friend is right. Nothing to do with St. John's Wort and its only known (accepted) medicinal property is as a laxative. If anybody is going to drink Senna tea they should consult their GP first if they are on any other drug i.e. for blood pressure which may deplete potassium in the metabolism.

Cassia bicapularis has flowers which look exactly like these - but the leaf type and arrangement is not the same. Given the similarity of flowers to at least one Cassia, this plant most likely is a Cassia - but I'm not at all sure which variety it might be. There are around 350 varieties. Whichever one it is, it seems you have won the argument because it's not one of the Hypericums, lol!

Yes, I've won the argument [this time] lol!
Thanks all for your input.
Have a great day.