176 Class XVIII. Order IV. 



POLYADELPHIA. 



POLYANDRM. 



214. HYPERICUM. 

 HYPERICUM PERFORATUM. L. Common St. John's wort. 



Flowers with three styles ; stem two edged ; 

 leaves obtuse, with pellucid dots ; calyx leaves lan- 

 ceolate. Sm. 



A hardy and very common weed in pastures and dry soils. 

 Stems numerous, erect, round, with a slight, prominent line on 

 each side, brachiate. Leaves opposite, oblong-oval, entire, pal- 

 er beneath, covered with small, transparent dots, which when 

 held against the light appear like perforations. Flowers nu- 

 merous, terminal, bright yellow. Petals oval ; stamens nume- 

 rous ; styles three. July, August. Perennial. 



HYPERICUM CANADENSE. L. Canada St. John's wort. 



Flowers with three styles, axillary, peduncu- 

 lated, solitary ; leaves sessile, linear, narrowed at 

 base ; stem herbaceous, square, dichotomous above. 

 Wittd. 



A small species, generally frequenting a soil which is some- 

 what moist. Stem round, with four prominent lines, formed by 

 the decurrent base of the leaves. Lower branches opposite, 

 upper ones in forks. Leaves linear-lanceolate, with transparent 

 dots. Flowers axillary and terminal, small, yellow, on short 

 pedicels. Capsules of a brownish colour, twice as long as the 

 calyx. July, August. Annual. 



