144 FLOWERS OF THE ROADSIDES AND HEDGES 
sepals are erect, acute, and entire, the petals oblong, the flowers yellow, 
the margins of the sepals entire, without glands, whilst there are black 
dots on the petals. 
The petals are notched. The three styles equal the capsule, and 
the stigmas are simple. The anthers are crowned with black glands. 
The plant is 18 in. in height in many cases. The flowering season 
is from July to September. It is perennial, and can be increased by 
division. 
The flowers are conspicuous and yet have no honey, and are 
adapted for self-pollination. They contain plenty of pollen. There 
are three groups of stamens united below, of different lengths, with 
anthers directed upwards which open in quick centrifugal succession 
outwards, and are immersed in pollen, the shortest opening first, the 
longest last. There are 3 styles, which radiate outwards. The stigmas 
developed at the same time are terminal, and ona level with the longest 
anthers between the groups of stamens. The stamens (in bundles) 
touch or are interwoven at the margin, and the stigmas may touch the 
pollen-covered anthers. Insects settle on one of the 5 outspread petals, 
and reach the anthers between two groups of stamens, and bring about 
either cross-pollination if they touch the stigma first, or self-pollination 
if they touch the anthers first. The petals and stamens later become 
erect, and self-pollination follows in the absence of insect visitors. 
The visitors are Hymenoptera (Apide, Tenthredinidz), Diptera 
(Bombylide, Empidz, Syrphidz), Lepidoptera (Large Skipper, //es- 
peria sylvanus, Meadow Brown, Satyrus /Janzra), Coleoptera (Chry 
somelide).  _ 
The seeds of this plant are dispersed by its own mechanism. The 
capsule is erect, opening at the top, splitting along divisions, and the 
seeds are dispersed by breaking up of the valves, and to some extent 
by the wind. The seeds are oblong or elliptic, netted, and dark brown. 
It is a humus-loving plant, and requires a humus soil. 
The fungus JZelampsora hypericorum infests it. The beetles 
Chrysomela fucata, Cryptocephalus ro-punctatus, the moths Purple 
Cloud (Cloantha perspicillaris), Black-veined Moth (Scorza dealbata), 
Treble-bar (Anaztis plagiata), Nepticula septembrella, Satyr Pug 
(Eupithecta Satyrata), Grapholite Hypericana, Gracilaria acuoguttella, 
Ringed Carpet (Boarmia cinctaria), the Homopteron Aphis papaverii, 
and the gall-fly Cecedomyza serotina feed on it. 
Hypericum, Dioscorides, is from the Greek hyper, over, evezke, 
heath, and ferforatum (Latin) refers to the perforate leaves. 
Perforate St. John Wort is called Amber, Balm of Warrior's 
