NAT. ORDER 



HypericinecE. 



HYPEKICUM HIRCINUN. FCETID ST. JOHN'S-WORT. 



Class XVIII. PoLYADELPHiA. Order II. Polyandria. 



Gen. Clmr. Capsule, membranaceous. Stamens, numerous, free. 

 Petals, five. Sejuils, five, connected at the base. Styles, three 

 to five. Capsules, one, many celled, many seeded. 



Spe. Cluir. Branches, winged. Leaves, emarginate. Peduncles, bi- 

 bracteate. Stamens, exceeding the corolla in length. 



This species of St. John's-wort has a shrubby stalk, and rises 

 from three to three and a half feet high, sending out small opposite 

 branches at each joint ; the leaves are oblong, ovate, sessile, placed in 

 pairs, and have a peculiar disagreeable rank smell ; the flowers are in 

 terminating bunches, producing the appearance of a large ball of 

 flowers when in full blossom. It is said to be a native of the south of 

 Europe, but grows naturally on the liills in the central part of Massa- 

 chusetts. It seeks the most rocky, desolate places on the north side 

 of high hills, where the forest is densely set with trees, forming almost 

 a perpetual shade. 



Hi/pcrk'um bakaricum. Warted St. John's-wort. This j)lant 

 rises with a slender shrubby stalk in this country, about two feet high ; 

 but in its native soil it acquires the height of seven or eight feet, send- 

 ing out several weak branches of a reddish color, and marked with 

 scars where the leaves have fallen off; the leaves are small, oval, 

 waved on their edges, and having several small protruberanccs on 

 their under side — they sit close to the branches, half embracing them 



Vol. IV. — 154. 



