HYPERICUM PERFORATUM. 
Fruit. A capsule or berry, many seeded 
Seeps. Indefinite, minute. 
THE SECONDARY CHARACTERS. 
Hypericum. Sepals five, connected at base, subequal, leaf-like, 
Petals five, oblique. Stamens indefinite, or numerous (sometimes 
few) united at base into three—five parcels with no glands between 
them. Styles three—five, distinct or united at base, persistent. 
Calyx five—parted, divisions equal, subovate. Corol five—petalled. Filaments often 
united at the base in three or five sets. Styles two—five. Capsule membranaceous, 
roundish, with a number of cells equal to the number of styles, The bases of the 
filaments are often in groups, when they are not united. 
THE SPECIFIC CHARACTERS. 
Hypericum Perroratum. Flowers with three styles. Sem 
two-edged, branched. Leaves elliptical, with pellucid dots, 
Sepals lanceolate, half as long as the petals. Segments of the 
calyx lanceolate. ' 
Erect, branching. Stem two edged. Leaves oblong, obtuse, transparently punctate. 
Paniele terminal brachiate, leafy. Petals longer than the acute, lanceolate calyx. 
THE ARTIFICIAL CHARACTERS, 
Crass Ponyapeupma. Stamens united by their filaments into 
more than two sets. Orper Potyanpria. Leaves opposite 
punctate. Flowers yellow. Fruit a membranaceous capsule. 
NATURAL HISTORY. 
This extensive Genus Hypericum, contains herbaceous, or 
shrubby species, found in all parts of the world, and of which 
between thirty to forty are natives of North America. They all 
possess medicinal properties in a greater or less degree, propor- 
tionate to the abundance or otherwise of the oil, bearing glands 
of the flowers and leaves. Certain species having a berry in- 
stead of a capsular fruit, have been separated under the generic 
_uame of Vismia. These are principally natives of tropical 
climates, and furnish a yellow product very analogous to gamboge. 
_ Hypericum Perroratum is a hardy plant, a native of Europe, 
_ but has been introduced on this continent, prevailing almost 
