ST. JOHN'S-WORT FAMILY 143 



many short needle-like leaves, often covers acres with 

 its compact, level -topped growth, dotted with myriads of 

 bright yellow flowers. Leaves on young plants of this 

 species are very different from the needle-like adult 

 foliage, as they are short and broad. 



A lively herbalist of the seventeenth century suggested 

 that the names of this family were given lest the saints 

 "should lack pot-herbs." Name and superstition seem 

 inextricably mixed in the St. John's-worts. One explana- 

 tion is that the plant first called by that name, H. perfor- 

 atum, begins to bloom on St. John the Baptist's day. 

 Another explanation is that the plant was believed to give 

 protection against evil spirits active on St. John's Eve, and 

 was therefore given the name of that saint. And again — 

 this plant gives a purple stain, which recalled to agile 

 minds the fate of St. John, and also led adherents of the 

 strange old "Doctrine of Signatures'' to use the plant as 

 a remedy for wounds. 



The leaves of our H. opacum and certain other species are 

 slightly odorous when crushed. 



Hypericum myrtifolium. Flowers yellow, nearly 1 in. 

 across, in terminal clusters. Sepals 5, leaflike, petals 5, 

 stamens many, in clusters. Shrubby, 1-3 ft. tall. Leaves 

 leathery, 1 in. long or less, broadest at base, clasping stem. 

 Damp pinelands. Blooming chiefly from spring to fall. Fla. 

 to S. C. and Ala. 



Hypericum aspalathoides. Flowers about V2 iii- across. 

 Plants shrubby, 1-3 ft. tall. Leaves many, clustered, very 

 narrow, less than V2 in. long. Low grounds and shallow 

 water. Fla. to N. C. and La. 



Hypericum fasciculatum. Similar to E. ^palaihoides, but 

 4-16 ft tall. Leaves 1/2-1 in. long. Wet places. Fla. to 

 N. C. and Texas. 



Hypericum opacum. Flowers small, in terminal flat-topped 

 inflorescence. Stems 1-4 ft. tall, seldom branched. Leaves 

 oblong, sessile, 1 in. long or less. Low pinelands and swamps. 

 Blooming from spring to fall. Fla. to S. C. and Miss. 



