154 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



three styles do not touch them when the flower 

 is open, being longer. When the flower is closed 

 the anthers touch the stigmas, and self-pollination 

 results, and appears to be quite effective. 



When the capsule is ripe and opens the seeds may 

 be jerked out by the wind. 



St. John's Wort was called F^iga dcemomim, and 

 considered efficacious in driving away evil spirits, 

 being hung up over doorways for this object. 



This species is not the particular one around which 

 so much folk-lore clusters. But St. John's Wort 

 was associated formerly with healing properties, 

 being astringent, and used to decorate churches on 

 St. John's Day (Midsummer Eve), and it was 

 regarded as a charm against storms. The St. John's 

 Worts were formerly employed as medicines. Steeped 

 in oil of turpentine the plant yields a red varnish. 

 The plant boiled in alum yields a yellow dye for 

 wool; having a yellow resinous juice, as in the 

 gamboge tree. 



Hypericum hirsutum. — Note the hairy character oj 

 the plants and the glandular nature of the inflorescence. 

 The exserted stamens can he seen in many of the flowers 

 {Fig. 29). 



16. The Mallow Group. 



The order Malvaceae includes the Marsh-mallow, 

 the Mallows, and Tree-mallow amongst British 

 plants. As a type, the Dwarf Mallow is selected for 

 description. 



