Vo... II.] ST. JOHN’S-WORT FAMILY. 429 
2. HYPERICUM L. Sp. Pl. 783. 1753. 
Herbs or shrubs, with opposite punctate or black-dotted leaves, and mostly cymose 
yellow flowers. Sepals 5, equal or nearly so, Petals 5, mainly oblique or contorted, con- 
volute or imbricated in the bud. Stamens o, distinct, or more or less united in clusters, 
sometimes with interposed hypogynous glands. Ovary I-celled, with 3-5 parietal placentae 
which sometimes project far into the cavity, or 3-5-celled (rarely 6-celled); ovules «, gen- 
erally numerous; styles 3-6. Capsule 1-5-celled (rarely 6-celled). [The Greek name. ] 
About 210 species, of wide geographic distribution. In addition to the following, 12 others 
occur in the southern and western United States and British America. 
*% Styles 5; large perennials; pods 5-celled, 
Flowers 1/-2' broad; capsules 9/’—10'’ long. 1. H. Ascyron. 
Flowers 6''-12'’ broad; capsules 3'’-6'’ long. 2, H, Kalmianum, 
. % % Styles 3 (rarely 4). 
f Tall leafy shrubs; pods 3-celled. 
Flowers 6''-8"' broad; pods 4’’-6'’ long. 
Flowers 4''-6'’ broad; pods 2''-3'’ long. 
+ + Herbaceous, sometimes woody at the base. 
{ Stamens numerous (15-40); flowers 3/’-12'’ broad, 
Capsules 1-celled or incompletely 3-4-celled. 
Capsules incompletely 3-4-celled by the projecting placentae. 
H. prolificum. 
. H. densiflorum, 
ae 
Leaves linear, 1'’-2'’ wide. 5. H. galioides. 
Leaves oblong, 3'’-5'’ wide. 6. H, adpressum. 
Capsules strictly 1-celled; placentae parietal. 
Styles united into a beak, separate above; stigmas minute. 
Leaves linear or linear-oblong; seeds transversely rugose. 
Nearly simple, erect; pod globose. 7. H. sphaerocarpum. 
Branched, decumbent; pod 3-sided. 8. H. dolabriforme. 
Leaves elliptic; seeds minutely pitted and striate. 9. H. ellipticum, 
Styles separate; stigmas capitate; cyme naked. 10. H. virgatum. 
Capsules completely 3-celled; styles separate. 
Leaves linear or oblong; sepals lanceolate. 11. H. perforatum, 
Leaves broadly oblong, oval or ovate-lanceolate. 
Sepals ovate; petals 2'’-3'’ long. 12. H. maculatum. 
Sepals lanceolate; petals 5''~7'’ long. 13. H. graveolens. 
t ¢ Stamens few (5-12); flowers 34'’-3'’ broad. 
Leaves spreading or ascending, 3-7-nerved. 
Cyme leafy-bracted. 14. HZ. boreale, 
Cymes subulate-bracted. 
Leaves ovate, oval, oblong or lanceolate, 5-7-nerved. 
Leaves ovate, oval or oblong; capsule 1’’-214'' long. 
Leaves obtuse; sepals linear-oblong, acutish or obtuse. 15. H. mutilum. 
Leaves acute, or only the lower obtuse; sepals long-acuminate. 
16. H. gymnanthum, 
Leaves lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate; capsule 4'’-5'’ long. 17. H. majus. 
Leaves linear, obtuse, 3-nerved. 18, Hl. Canadense. 
Leaves linear, erect, I-nerved. 19. H. Drummonait, 
1. Hypericum Ascyron L, 
Great or Giant St. John’s- 
wort. (Fig. 2444.) 
Hypericum Ascyron \,. Sp. Pl. 783. 1753. 
Hypericum pyramidatum Ait. Hort. 
Kew. 3: 103. 1789. 
Perennial, herbaceous, erect, 2°-6° 
high, branching, the branches often 
nearly erect, angled. Leaves sessile, 
clasping, ovate-oblong or ovate- 
lanceolate, 2/-5’ long, 14’-114’ wide, 
obtuse or acute; cymes terminal, 
few-flowered; flowers bright yellow, 
1/-2’ broad; pedicels stout, 3%4/-2’ 
long; sepals ovate-lanceolate, 4//-6/’ 
long, acute; petals obovate or ob- 
lanceolate, tardily deciduous; styles 
usually 5, united below; stamens nu- 
merous, united in 5 sets; capsule ovoid, 
9/’-10’” long, 5-celled. 
Banks of streams, western Quebec and 
Vermont to Manitoba, south to Connec- 
ticut, northern New Jersey, Illinois, 
Iowa and Minnesota. Also in northern 
Europe and Asia. July—Aug. 
