Order 18.— IIYPERIGACE^. 247 



persistent ; petals mostly oblique or convolute in the bud ; stamens few or many, 



polyadelphous ; anthers versatile ; ovary compound, with styles united or separate, 



becoming in fruit a 1 -celled capsule with parietal placenta?, or 3 to 5-celled when 



the dissepiments reach the center. Seeds exalbuminous, minute. (Illustrations in 



Fig. 69, 278, 389, 390.) 



Generu 15, species 276, very generally distributed, presenting a great variety of habit, and 

 flourishing in all kinds of localities. The juico of many species is Considered purgative and 

 febrifugal. 



GENERA. 



Sepals 4. Petals 4, oblique, yellow Asctrum 1 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, — oblique, yellow Hypericum 2 



—equilateral, purplish Elodea 3 



1. ASCYRUM, L. St. Peter's Wort. (Etymology uncertain.) Sep- 

 als 4, the two outer usually very large and foliaceous; petals 4, oblique, 

 convolute ; filaments slightly united at base into several parcels ; styles 

 2 — 4, mostly distinct; capsule 1 -celled. — Plants suffruticous. Lvs. 

 punctate with black dots. Fls. pale yellow 1 or 3 terminating each 

 branch. Pedicels bibracteolate. 



The outer pair of sepals — very large, ovate. Stylos 1 or 2 Nos. 1, 3 



— still larger, orbicular. Styles 8 Nos. 8, 4 



— small, like the two inner. Styles o No. 5 



1 A. Crux-Andre£9 L. St. Andrew's Cross. Branches many, subercct, an- 

 cipital above ; lvs. linear-oblong, obtuse ; outer sep. twice longer than the pedicel ; 2 

 bracteoles a little below the flower. — Sandy woods, N. J. to Ga. and La. Sts. 1 to 

 2f high, with brown, scaly bark below. Lvs. G to 12" long, minutely dotted, 

 sessile, smaller ones axillary. Cymes leafy. The persistent, ovate sepals close 

 after flowering. Jn., Jl. 



/3 angustifolia Nutt. Lvs. oblong-linear, crowded; outer sepals acute, the 

 two bracteoles close to the floAver. — Car. and Ga. (Feay.) Looks very differ- 

 ent from a, from the smallnes3 of its numerous lvs., which are 3 to 6" long, 

 1' wide. 



2 A. pumilum Mx. Low, trailing at base ; lvs. oval and obovaie, obtuse, sessile ; 

 outer sepals shorter than the slender pedicel, inner sepal ; bracteoles 0. — Ga. and 

 Fla., in dry, piny barrens. Much branched, branches a few inches long. Lvs. 

 about 3" by 2," often smaller. Cymes exserted, the pedicels 6 to 10" long. 

 Pet. rather larger than the sepals. 



3 A. stans Mx. St. erect, ancipital ; lvs. oblong, sessile, and half-clasping, obtuse; 

 caps, ovale, acute. — Swamps in pine barrens, N. J. to Fla. and La. Sts. 1 to 3f 

 high, straight, winged throughout, branched above, usually simple at base and 

 shaggy with loose bark. Lvs. 10 to 15" long, ^ as wide. Outer sepals orbicular, 

 subcordate, 6" diam., inner lance-linear. Petals unequal, ovate, acute, a little 

 longer than the sepals. Sty. 3, distinct, short. Jn. — Aug. 



4 A. amplexicaule Mx. St. erect, terete below; lvs. broadly ovate, cordate, 

 clasping; caps, oblong. — Ga. and Fla. Sts. 1 to 2f high, dichotonously branched 

 above, branches somewhat 2-edged. Lvs. 8 to 12" long, g as broad. Outer 

 sepals nearly round, 5'' broad, the petals £ longer. 



5 A. microsepalum Torr. and Gr. Bushy ; st. scarcely edged ; lvs. oblong and 

 • oblong-linear, crowded ; sep. oblong-linear, much shorter than the obovatc, un- 

 equal petals; sty. 3, long, distinct. — Ga. and Fla. Very different in aspect from 

 the others, with crooked, straggling stems. Lvs. 2 to 4" long, l" wide (in a 

 variety twice as large). Pedicels longer than the calyx. Fls. 9" broad. Sty. 

 filiform, as long as the oblong capsule. May. 



2. HYPERICUM, L. St. John's-wort. (Derivation unknown.) 

 Sepals 5, connected at base, subequal, leaf-like ; petals 5, oblique ; 

 stamens Co (sometimes few), mostly united at base into 3 — 5 parcels, 



