38 HYPERICACE.fi. (ST. JOHN's-AVORT FAMILY.) 



vatc, 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 l-celled, 

 with 8—4 parietal placentae. Stigmas 3-4, sessile, placed over the pla- 

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

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



1. PARNASSIA, Tourn. Grass of Parnassus. 

 Characters same as the order. 



1. P. Caroliniana, Michx. Leaves broadly ovate or cordate-ovate ; 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 northward. Oc- 

 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 September. — Flow- 

 ers larcer than in No. 1. 



Order 18. HYPERICACE7E. (St. Joiin's-wort Family.) 



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

 and regular hypogynous, mostly yellow flowers. — Sepals 4 - . r >, imbricated 

 in the bud, jx-rsistent. 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 l-celled, with strictly parietal placenta;, or 2-5-celled by the meeting 

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

 ous, minute, anatropous, without albumen. 



Synopsis. 



» Petals convolute in the bud. 



1. ASCYIUJM. Sepals nnd (yellow) petals 4. 



2. I1YPKKM i M. Bepala and (yellow) petals 5. Stamens without interposed glands. 



* » Petals imbricated in the bud. 



3. ELODKA. Sepals and (rose-colored) petals 6. A gland between the sets of stamens. 



1. ASCYRUM, L. St. Piti.k's-wout. 



Sepalfl i, the two outer ones much larger (excepl No. 5). Petals 4, convolute 

 in I he bud, Oblique. Si aniens numerous, Styles 2-4, distinct or united. ( ';i]>- 



sales 2-4-valved, l-celled, with 2-4 parietal placentas. — S otb shrubs with 



i branches. Flowers mostly Bolitary, yellow. 



* Pedicels 2-bracted : styles shorter than thi ovary. 

 1. A. Crux-Andreoe, T.- Leaves linear-oblong, obtuse, narrowed at the 

 base; outer sepals Oral, rather uhtusc, the inner ones minute; petals oblong, 



