St. John's Wort: leaves are lance-shaped and spotted with translucent dots.

• A. St. John's Wort
• B. Showy Milkweed
• C. Larkspur
• D. Common Mullein

Answer: (A)

Leaves that are lance-shaped with translucent dots are a classic identifying feature of St. John’s Wort. Those tiny oil glands in the leaves create a dotted, nearly perforated look when light shines through, which is distinctive for Hypericum perforatum. Among common look-alikes, the others don’t match this leaf pattern: Showy Milkweed has broader, non-dotted leaves; Larkspur leaves are typically deeply lobed or divided; Common Mullein has tall, fuzzy, broad leaves rather than narrow, dotted ones. So the described leaf characteristics point to St. John’s Wort.