GUTTIFERALES.J 



HYPERICACE^. 



405 



Order CXLVI. HYPERICACEiE.— Tutsans. 



Hyperica, Juss. Gen. 254. (1789).— Hypericineae, Chois. Prodr. Hyp. 32. (1821); DC. Prodr. 1. 541. 

 (J824) ; Endl. Gen. ccxviii.; Meisner, Gen., p. 44 ; Wi(M Illustr. 1. t. 43 ; Spach. in Ann. Sc. Nat. 

 ser. 2. V. 157. 349.— Hypericaceae, Ed. Pr. Iviii.— Eucrj-phieae, Endl. Ench.p. 528. 



Diagnosis. — Guttiferal Exogetis, with oblique glandular petals, numerous naked seeds, and 



long distinct str/les. 



Herbaceous, or even occasionally annual, plants, shrubs, or trees, having a resinous 

 juice, and often with angular branches. Leaves opposite, entire, without stipules, occa- 

 sionally alternate, sometimes crenelled, usually impressed with transparent dots, and 

 bordered xnth black glands. Flowers in most instances yellow, sometimes red or white, 

 regular, with various forms of inflorescence. Sepals 4 or 5, free from the ovary, persis- 

 tent, so arranged as to have two exterior to the others, sepai'ate or partially united. 

 Petals of the same number as the sepals, unequal -sided, twisted spirally in aestivation, 

 bordered with black dots, sometimes having a fleshy scale or a hollow at their base. 



Fig. CCLXXXV 



Stamens hypogjaious, almost always 00, sometimes distinct, occasionally raonadelphous 

 but almost always polyadelphous ; sometimes ha\'ing fleshy glands intervening between 

 the bundles of stamens ; filaments filiform ; anthers 2-celled, opening lengthwise, fre- 

 quently surmounted by a gland. Carpels 3 to 5, partially united round a placenta, 

 which forms the axis, and introduces its arms into then* ca\'ity ; styles as many as the 

 carpels, usually distinct, but occasionally cohering at the base ; stigmas capitate or trun- 

 cate, rarely 2-lobed ; ovules 00, (rarely definite,) generally horizontal, rarely ascending, 

 occasionally pendulous, anatropal, or, in some instances, amphitropal. Fruit sometimes 

 1-celled, but in most instances either a di'y or fleshy capsule, of many valves and many 

 cells ; the edges of the former being curved inwards. Seeds minute, usually tapering, 

 attached to a placenta in the axis, or adhering to the inner edge of the dissepmients ; 

 embryo straight or curved, with an mferior radicle and no albumen. 



The unequal-sided petals, and dark glands upon their edge, offer in most cases a ready 

 means of recognising this Oi-der, which moreover commonly possesses polyadelplious 

 stamens. Its long styles, and distinctly apocarpous fruit, afford a further means of 

 recognition. Keeping these characters in view, no doubt can be entertained of the two 

 genera EucrjT)hia and Carpodontos, separated by Mr. Endlicher, being genuine members 

 of the Order of Tutsans ; for the mequahty of the petals is distinctly visible in the latter 

 genus. Nor does it appear desirable to separate from the Tutsans the cui'ious genus 



„. „.„ ., , 3. a pistil 



and netted testa ; 5. a 



Fig. CCLXXXV.— Hypericum floribundum ; 1. an entire flower ; 2. a bundle of stamens 

 with 3 carpels ; 4. a seed laid horizontally and cut through, to show the embrjo and netted 

 piece of a leaf with transparent dots. 



