HYPERICUM PERFORATUM. 
as it has become very abundant, and is not only very difficult to 
eradicate, but extremely exhausting to the ground. It has a 
peculiar balsamic odor, Its taste is bitter, resinous and somewhat 
astringent. The root is perennial, fusiform and tortuous, The stem 
is ancipital, about eighteen inches in height, much branched, 
curved below, and erect above. The leaves are closely sessile, of 
an ovate elliptical shape, of a light green color, and conspiciously 
marked with numerous pellucid dots. The flowers are of a bright 
yellow color, arranged in a terminal corymb, ‘The calyx is per- 
sistent, and is composed of five acute-lanceolate sepals, united at 
base. The corolla is of five-ovate, obtuse, sessile petals, much 
longer than the sepals, of a yellow color, with numerous dark 
glandular spots at the edges. The stamens are numerous, and 
divided into three sets, The anthers are small. The styles 
are three with very small stigmas. The fruit is a somewhat 
globose capsule, with three cells, and opening naturally by three 
valves. Seeds numerous, very small. 
Everlasting John’s-wort is apt to flourish undisturbed and fill 
the earth with seeds or roots, in readiness to spread and grow 
whenever the earth is moved for their reception. This plant has 
taxed the ingenuity of vigilant farmers in effecting its removal. 
It should never be allowed to perfect its seeds, and if they are 
ever so permitted, the farmer has suffered an enemy to steal a 
march upon him, which may require much time and labor to 
subdue. 
CHEMICAL AND ‘MEDICAL PROPERTIES AND USES. 4 
No complete analysis of the cen Perroratum has ever 
yet been made, but from the experiments of Mr. Blair (Am. 
Jour. Pharm, ii, 23.) its active constituents appear to be an 
acrid, resinous substance, pervading the whole plant, a red oil, 
furnished by the gland on the petals, and some tannin. Hy- 
pericum is not recognized as officinal by the United States Phar- 
macopeia, but is so by many of the European authorities as a 
constituent of a variety of syrups, tinctures, &c. 
The St. John’s-wort was, notwithstanding, held in high per 
mation by the earlier writers on the Materia RE and 
numerous virtues attributed to it particularly as a febrifuge and 
anthelmintic. ‘The leaves, flowers, and seeds stamped (says 
Gerard, 1590), and put into a glass with olive oil, and set in 
the warm sun for several weeks together, and then strained from 
