38 iivrEUiCACK.E. (sT. joiin's-wout family.) 



Tate, veiny, imbricated in tlic 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 l-ccUed, 

 with 3-4 parietal placentae. Stigmas 3-4, sessile, placed over the pla- 

 centa2. Capsule loculicidally 3-4-valved at the apex, many-seeded. 

 Seeds anatropous, Avinged, without albumen. Embryo straight, cylindrical. 



1. PARNASSIA, Tourn. Grass or Taunassus. 

 Characters same as tlie order. 



1. P. Caroliniana, Michx. Leaves broadly ovate or cordatc-ovatc ; can- 

 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 noi'thward. Oc- 

 tober and November. — Stem 12'- 18' high. Flowers 1' wide. 



2. P. asarifolia, Vent. Leaves reniform ; caulinc one near the middle 

 of the stem, cl:isj)ing; petals broadly ovate, short-clawed; sterile stamens by 

 threes. — High mountains of North Carolina. August and September. — Flow> 

 ers larger than in No. 1. 



Ordkh 18. IIYPERICACEiE. (St. Joiix's-avout Family.) 



Herbs or shndis, with opposite entire dotted leaves, without stipules, 

 and regular hypogynous, mostly yellow flowers. — Sepals 4 - 5, iudjri(;ated 

 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 placentae, or 2-5-cclled by the meeting 

 of the placenta; at the axis, scpticidally 2 - 5-valved. Seeds very numer- 

 ous, minute, anatropous, without albumen. 



Synopsis. 



• Petals convolute in the bud. 



1. ASCYRXI3I. Sepals and (yellow) petals 4. 



2. HYPERICUM. Sepals and (yellow) petals 5. Stamens without interposed glands. 



• » Petals imbricated in the bud. 



3. ELODEA. Sepals and (rcse-colorcd) petals 5. A gland between the sets of Ftamens. 



1. ASCYRUM, L. St. Peteu's-wort. 



Sepals 4, the two outer ones mtuh larger (except No. 5). Petals 4, convolute 

 in the \nu\, ()l)li(|ue. Stamens numerous. Styles 2-4, distinct or united. Cm|>- 

 Hulcs 2-4-valvcd, 1-cellcd, with 2-4 parietal placenta;. — Smooth shrubs with 

 2-cdgcd branches. Flowers mostly solitary, yellow. 



* Pidiri'h 2-lirnctcd : sli/les shorter l/inn the ovarii. 



1. A. Crux-AndreSB, L. Leaves linenr-obloiig, olitu-^o, nanoweil nl the 

 ba.sc; outer Bcpals oval, ruthcr obtuse, tlie inner ones minute ; i)cUds »)l)lorig, 



