There are a number of hypericum, probably ten in all, that one is likely to encounter in the wild and they all have a fairly similar yellow flower and pointed leaves. The key to identifying them in my experience is to look for the feature that makes each unique. In this case, the slender St John's-wort (Hypericum pulchrum), for me it has to be the red undersides of the flowers that have yet to open. When the plant is in flower it will usually have at least one still to open and displaying this distinctive feature. There are other features that make it unique of course but often in nature watching it can be a single thing you notice at once that is diagnostic.
Slender St John's-wort is, indeed, a slender, neat and elegant plant; some of the other St John's-worts can be rather untidy! It usually has a single reddish stem from which other stems branch to give flower heads. It is not a tall flower, may be between one and two feet tall although in favourable conditions it can grow taller.
It is a familiar flower of woodland ride edges and clearings, usually on acid or neutral soils but never on lime.
Pulchrum is translated from the Latin to mean attractive, dignified, honourable. Slender St John's-wort is a fine, upstanding member of the plant community!
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