HYPERICACE^. 113 



a single carpel. Styles as many as the carpels. Stigmas capitate. 

 Placentaj on the inner angles of the dissepiments. Ovules gene- 

 rally numerous, anatropous. Fruit usually a capsule, with septi- 

 cidal (or more rarely loculicidal) dehiscence, sometimes fleshy and 

 indehiscent, very rarely dividing into cocca. Seeds small, cylin- 

 drical, straight. Embryo straight, rarely curved. Albumen none. 

 E-adicle near the hilum. 



GENUS I.—E. YPERICUM. Linn. 



Sepals 5, free, or slightly combined at the base. Petals 5, 

 glabrous on the inside. Stamens united at the base, so as to form 

 3 or 5 bundles, or more rarely with the filaments united for a great 

 part of their length. Placentse 3 to 5, projecting more or less into 

 the cavity of the capsule, sometimes meeting and adhering together 

 in the axis. Seeds not winged. Cotyledons usually shorter than 

 the radicle. 



Herbs or small shrubs, with the leaves generally sub-sessile, 

 frequently with pellucid dots or veins. Plowers commonly yellow, 

 with the petals often bordered or dotted with black glandular 

 points. 



According to the beat authorities, the name of this genus of plants is derived from 

 two Greek words, v-rnp (Jiuper), above, or superior; and ciKU)t'{eikon), an image, or spectre; 

 because it was supposed to protect from evil spirits. 



Section I.— ANDROS^EMINEiE. S2)ach. 



Calyx of 5 unequal sepals. Petals deciduous. Stamens 

 generally in 5, rarely 4 bundles, generally deciduous, without 

 having hypogynous glands or scales alternating with the bundles, 

 in each of which the stamens adhere only by the base. Ovary 3- or 

 6-celled, with the placentas not united. 



Plants with the stems often shrubby, at least towards the base. 

 Flowers large, handsome, rather few. 



SPECIES I.-HYP ERIC UM ANDROSiEMUM. Linn. 



Plate CCLXIV. 



Androsjemum officinale, All. Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Ilelv. Vol. VI. Hyp. Tab. CCCLII. 



Fig. 5192. 

 A. officinale, Koch, Syn. Fl. Germ, et Helv. ed. ii. p. 146. 



Stem shrubby at the base ; branches compressed. Leaves sessile, 

 ovate, sub-cordate at the base, rather obtuse at the apex. Cymes 





r,- 



I ' -'"' 



