N. ORD.—-HYPERICACE =. | 30 
GENUS.—H Y PERICUM,®* LINN. 
SEX. SYST.—POLYADELPHIA POLYANDRIA., 
HYPERICUM. 
ST. JOHN'S WORT. 
SYN.—HYPERICUM PERFORATUM, LINN.; H. VULGARE, BAUH.; H. 
PSEUDOPERFORATUM, BERTOL. 
COM. NAMES.—ST. JOHN’S WORT, GOD’S WONDER PLANT, DEVIL'S 
SCOURGE, WITCHES’ HERB; (FR.) HERBE ST. JEAN, CHASSE DIABLE, 
MILLE-PERTUIS; (GER.) JOHANNISKRAUT, HARTHEU, HEXEN- 
KRAUT. 
A TINCTURE OF THE WHOLE PLANT HYPERICUM PERFORATUM, LINN. 
Description.— This rapidly-spreading perennial grows to a height of a foot or 
more, Stem erect, somewhat two-edged, much branched at the summit and _pro- 
ducing many long runners from its base. Leaves elliptical to linear oblong, obtuse, 
and punctate with numerous scattered pellucid dots. /nflorescence in a dense, ter- 
minal, leafy cyme ; flowers numerous, deep yellow. Calyx erect; sepads lanceolate, 
acute. /etals twice as long as the sepals, black-dotted along the edges, margins 
unequal. Stamens numerous, in 3 to 5 clusters; f/aments filiform; anthers black- 
dotted. Styles 3-divergent. /ruzt a globose-ovoid capsule, 3-celled by the meeting 
of the placente in the axis; seeds pitted. 
Hypericacez.— This family of herbs or shrubs is represented in North America 
by 3 genera, containing in all 39 species and 6 varieties. Leaves opposite, entire, 
dotted; s#/pules none. Juflorescence cymose ; flowers regular, hypogynous. Sepa/s 
5, nearly equal, sometimes united at the base, persistent, and imbricated in the bud. 
Petals 5, alternate with the sepals, deciduous, oblique, convolute or imbricated in the 
bud. Stamens mostly numerous, united or clustered, and not furnished with inter- 
posed glands; anthers introrse, fixed by the middle. Ovudes anatropous; styles 
2 to 5, persistent; s#gmas hardly evident, capitate. /rzzt a 1- to 5-celled pod; 
dehiscence septicidal ; valves 2 to 5. Seeds numerous, usually cylindrical ; embryo 
straight; albumen none; tegmen fleshy. 
The only plants of this order used in general medicine are: The Isle of France 
Hypericum lanceolatum, which is considered specific for syphilis by the natives ; 
the Brazilian H. connatum, used as an astringent in sore throat; //. daxiusculum, 
considered alexiteric; and some Russian species, which are vaunted as cures 
for hydrophobia. The European Androsemum officinale, All., is vulnerary ; and 
the Guiana Visnia Guianensis, Pers., yields a purgative juice, greatly resembling 
gamboge. 
* The ancient name, of unknown derivation. 
