NAT. ORDE R. 



RotactB. 



HYPERICUM MONOGYNUM. CHINESE ST. JOHN'S-WORT 



Class XVIII. PoLYADELPHiA. Order III. Polyandria. 



Gen. Char. Calyx, five-parted. Petals, five. Filaments, many 



connected at the base into five bundles. 

 Spe. Char. Stem, ancipital. Leaves, blunt, with pelucid dots. 



This species of the Hypericum generally grows to the height 

 of about a foot and a half; the root is perennial, ligneous, divided 

 and sub-divided into numerous small branches, and covered with 

 a straw-colored bark ; the stalks are round, smooth, of a light 

 color, and towards the top .send off many opposite floriferous 

 branches ; the leaves are without footstalks, and placed in pairs ; 

 they are entire, oval, and beset with a great number of minute 

 transparent vesicles, which have the appearance of small perfora- 

 tions through the disc ; the Jloicers arc numerous, pentapetalous, 

 terminal, of a deep yellow color, and grow in a corymbus, or in 

 clusters, upon short peduncles ; each j^e^a^ is of an irregular oval 

 shape, and, on the under side, near the apex, is marked with many 

 blackish spots ; the calyx consists of five persistent acute leaves ; 

 the stamens are numerous, and most generally are found united at 

 their base into three portions, or bundles ; the anthers are yellow, 

 and marked with a small black gland ; the styles are three ; and 

 the capsules have three cells, which contain many small oblong, 

 brownish seeds. It grows most common in woods, and uncultiva- 

 ted grounds ; and flowers in July. 



Of this genus ons hundred and thirty-four are enumerated, 



Vol. iii. —33. 



