Texas but also the erect plant, segregated as var. oblongifolium (Spach) Fern., 

 with rather broadly oblanceolate leaves and prominent basally cordate outer calyx 

 lobes that are up to 15 mm. long and 1 cm. wide. Var. hypericoides, our most com- 

 mon plant, is erect and freely branched above the ground level and has linear to 

 linear-elliptic leaves. 



2. Hypericum L. St. John's-wort 



Herbs or shrubs; leaves opposite, sometimes verticillate; flowers solitary or in 

 cymes; sepals 5, usually subequal, persistent; petals 5, oblique, usually convolute 

 in the bud, yellow, flesh-colored or sometimes reddish or purplish; stamens usually 

 numerous, mostly united or clustered in 3 to 5 fascicles, the filaments elongate; 

 styles abbreviated or elongate, separate or (at first) connate for most or part of 

 their lengths, more or less united below the middle, mostly persistent on the cap- 

 sules, the stigmas minute or capitate; capsules mostly 1 -celled or sometimes 3- to 

 5-celled; seeds short-cylindric, mostly reticulate. 



About 300 species that are cosmopolitan in their distribution. 



Deer are known to browse tender shoots of some species while ducks and game 

 birds will eat the seeds. 



1. Distribution in New Mexico and/or Arizona (2) 



1. Distribution in Oklahoma and/ or Texas (3) 



2(1). Stems numerous, weak, slender, procumbent to ascending, rooting at lower 

 nodes, usually less than 2 dm. long; leaves not dotted; petals 

 salmon-colored, 2—4 mm. long 1. H. anagalloides. 



2. Stems one or several, erect from a creeping rootstock, usually more than 2 



dm. tall; leaves black-dotted on the margins; petals yellow, 7-14 

 mm. long 2. H. formosum. 



3(1). Stems woody throughout or at least on lower part; styles typically closely 

 appressed their entire length at maturity, the stigmas minute; trans- 

 lucent or pellucid-punctate glands present (4) 



3. Stems herbaceous or rarely slightly woody at very base; styles either ap- 



pressed or separate (11) 



4(3). Mature leaves and sepals linear-subulate or needlelike, the leaf margins 

 essentially parallel 7. H. fasciculatum. 



4. Mature leaves and sepals with expanded non-needlelike blades, the leaves 



somewhat wider above the middle (5) 



5(4). Leaves and sepals without a basal articulation or groove; inflorescence ap- 

 pearing naked due to the much-reduced bracts (6) 



5. Leaves and sepals with a basal articulation or groove; inflorescence appearing 



leafy due to the foliaceous bracts (8) 



6(5). Leaves linear-oblong to linear-lanceolate, less than 1 cm. wide, midnerve 



beneath prominently keeled and running into a stem wing 



10. H. cistifoUum. 



6. Leaves ovate-lanceolate to elliptic, usually well over 1 cm. wide (7) 



7(6). Inflorescence usually a many-flowered (rarely 3) dichasium; mature cap- 

 sules 3.5-7 mm. long, 3-4.5 mm. wide; raphe of seed well- 

 developed, forming a conspicuous keel 8. H. niidiflorum. 



1. Inflorescence a 3-flowered dichasium, sometimes 6- or 1 -flowered; mature 

 capsules 6-14 mm. long, 4.5-7 mm. wide; raphe of seeds only 

 slightly developed, forming a low ridge but not a conspicuous keel 

 9. H. apocynifoUuin. 



8(5). Largest leaves 1.5-3 cm. long; seeds 0.7-0.8 mm. long 



6. H . galioides. 



8. Largest leaves 3-7.5 cm. long; seeds 0.9-1.6 mm. long (9) 



1129 



