98 HYPERICACEJE. (ST. JOHN'S-WORT FAMILY.) 
vate, veiny, imbricated in the bud, deciduous. Fertile stamens 5, alter- 
nating with the petals: anthers introrse. Sterile ones in sets of 3— 15 
more or less united filaments, placed opposite each petal. Ovary 1-celled, 
with 3—4 parietal placentz. Stigmas 3-4, sessile, placed over the pla- 
centz. Capsule loculicidally 3—4-valved at the apex, many-seeded. 
Seeds anatropous, winged, without albumen. Embryo straight, cylindrical. 
1. PARNASSIA, Tourn. : Grass or Parnassus. 
Characters same as the order. 
1. P. Caroliniana, Michx. Leaves broadly ovate or cordate-ovate ; cau- 
line one near the base of the stem, clasping ; petals oval, sessile, with impressed 
greenish veins; sterile stamens by threes, distinct almost to the base, 2-3 times — 
as long as the recurved fertile ones. — Damp soil, Florida and northward. Oc- j 
tober and November. — Stem 12/- 18' high. Flowers 1! wide. 
2. P. asarifolia, Vent. Leaves reniform ; cauline one near the middle 
of the stem, clasping; petals broadly ovate, short-clawed ; sterile stamens by 
threes. — High mountains of North Carolina. August and feties. — Flow- 
ers larger than in No. 1. 
Orper 18. HYPERICACE/E. (Sr. Jony’s-worr FAMILY.) 
Herbs or shrubs, with opposite entire dotted leaves, without stipules, 
and regular hypogynous, mostly yellow flowers. — Sepals 4 — 5, imbricated 
in the bud, persistent. Petals 4—5, convolute or imbricated in the bud, 
deciduous. Stamens mostly numerous, and often united at the base into 
3—5 sets: anthers introrse. Styles 2—5, often united, persistent. Cap- 
sule 1-celled, with strictly parietal placente, or 2—5-celled by the meeting 
of the placenta at the axis, septieidally 2—5-valved. Seeds very numer- 
ous, minute, anatropous, without albumen. 
Synopsis. 
* Petals convolute in the bud. 
1. ASCYRUM. Sepals and (yellow) petals 4. 
2. HYPERICUM. Sepals and (yellow) petals 5. Stamens without interposed glands. _ 
+ æ Petals imbricated in the bud. 
2. RLODEA. [fen est Pene PA, Xi- apio occi cori 
| L ASCYRUM, E Sr. PETER’S-WORT, 
Sepals 4, the two outer ones much larger (except No. 5). Petals 4, andik 
in the bud, oblique. Stamens numerous. Styles 2-4, distinct or united. Cap- 
sules 2 — 4-valved, 1-celled, with 2-4 parietal placent. — Smooth So qn 
edi: o e dis Poe 
