182 XX. HYPERICACE^. Hypericum. 



steins Iruni the same root, and a multitude of tufted branches, all covered with 

 whitish down. Leaves about 1 — 2" in length, closely appressed to the stem. 

 Flower small, yellow, on pedicels not longer than the leaves. May. 



2. H. ERicoiDEs. Heath-like Hudsonia. 



Hoary-pubescent; Ivs. acerose-subulate ; ped. longer than the leaves, fili- 

 form, hairy ; sep. acutish. — A very delicate shrub, found in pine barrens, Mass. 

 to Va. Stem ^f high, erect, with numerous short, compound, procumbent 

 branches. Leaves needle-like, scattered, 2 — 4" long. Flowers yellow, shorter 

 than the peduncles. Capsule oblong, pubescent. May. 



Order XX. HYPERICACE^.— St. John's-worts. 



Herbs, shrubs or trees, with a resinous juice, and often with angular branches. 



Lvs. opposite, entire, mostly punctate with pellucid dots, and black glands. Slip. 0. 



Fls. perfect, mostly yellow, with cymose inflorescence. 



Cai.— Sepals 4—5, distinct or cohering, persistent, unequal, dotted. 



Cor. — Petals 4—5, hypogynous, testivation twisted, veins oblique, dotted. 



Sta. hypoeynous, indefinite, in 3 or more parcels. Anthers versatile. 



Qua. single, superior. S^t/Ze slender. Sr/g-wa simple. 



Pr. a capsule or berry, many-celled. Seeds indefinite, minute. 



Genera 13, species 276, verj' generally distributed, presenting a very great variety in habit, and flourish- 

 ing in all kinds of localities. The juice of many species is considered purgative and febrifugal. 



Conspectus of the Genera. 



( Hypericum. 2. 



J5. Hypogynousglands ^3 ' . . . Elodea. 3. 



Petals and sepals ( 4. Hypogynous glands Ascyrum. 1. 



L ASCYRUM. 



Gr. o, privative, cKvpos, roughness; i. e., a smooth plant. 



Sepals 4, tlie 2 outer usually larger ; petals 4 ; filaments slightly 

 united at base into several parcels ; styles 2 — 4, mostly distinct ; cap- 

 sule 1 -celled. — Plants suffruticose. Lvs. 'punctate with black dots. 

 Fls. yellow, 1 — 3, terminal on each branch. Pedicels bibradeolate. 



1. A. Crux-Andre.e. (A. multicaule, Michx.') St. Petefs-wort. 



St. much branched at base ; branches suberect, ancipital above ; lvs. obo- 

 va\e or linear-oblong, obtuse ; inner sep. minute, roundish ; pet. linear-oblong ; 

 sty. 1 — 2. — Sandy woods, N. J. to La. Stem about If high, thickly clothed 

 with leaves which are J — H' long, of very variable width. Flowers pale-yel- 

 low, on very short pedicels, with 2 bracteoles close to the calyx. Petals ex- 

 ceeding the sepals and stamens. July. 



2. A. sTANs. Michx. (A. hypericoides. Linn.') 



Si. straight, erect, ancipital or winged, branched above ; lvs. oblong, ob- 

 tuse, sessile ; outer sep. cordate, orbicular, longer than the 2 lanceolate, interior 

 ones; s/y. 3. — Swamps in pine barrens, N. J. to La. Stem 1 — 2f high. Leaves 

 1 — IV long, ^ as wide, somewhat glaucous. Flowers usually 3 together, much 

 larger than in the preceding. Yellow. Jl. Aug. 



2. HYPERICUM. 

 Sepals 5, connected at base, subequal, leaf-like ; petals 5, oblique ; 

 Stamens 00 (sometimes few) united at base into 3 — 5 parcels, with 

 no glands between them ; styles 3 — 5, distinct or united at base, per- 

 sistent. — Herbaceous or shrubby ptants. Lvs. jiUJictate.) with pellucid 

 dots, opposite, entire. Fls. solitary, or in cymose pajiicles, yelloio. 

 * Stamens 20 — 100, polyadelphous. Herbs. 

 1. H. PYRAMiDATUM. Ait. (H. ascvroidcs. Willd.) Giant Hypericum. 

 St. branching, somewhat quadrangular; lvs. sessile, oblong-ovate, acute, 

 smooth; sty. as long as the stamens. — 7^ A large flowering species, found on 

 dry hills, also on river banks, Ohio and Penn. to Car. Stem 3 — 5f high, scarce- 

 ly angular, smooth, rigid, herbaceous. Branches corymbose and erect, or late- 



