144 ENGLISH BOTANY, 



terminal, few flowered. Sepals unequal, oval or ovate, rather 

 obtuse. Petals about as long as the sepals Stamens in 5 bundles, 

 about as long as the petals. Ovary sub-globose. Styles 3, recurved, 

 rather shorter than the ovary, and falling short of the stamens. 

 Fruit a sub-globose pulpy berry before it is quite rijie, when it 

 becomes dry, indehiscent, crowned by the three hooked styles, 

 which are much shorter than the fruit. 



In shady lanes and thickets. Rather rare, and probably only 

 native in the South of England and West of Scotland, where, 

 however, it reaches as far north as Ross-shire. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Shrub. Summer. 



Stem erect or ascending, branched, 1 to 3 feet high, the lower 

 part decidedly woody. Leaves opposite, 1 to 3 inches long, ovate, 

 or lanceolate-ovate, scarcely acute, thickly sprinkled with very 

 minute transparent dots. Cymes 3- to 12- flowered, umbellate, or 

 corymbose. Pedicels equalling or exceeding the sepals. Flowers 

 f inch across, bright yellow. Sepals very unequal, arranged in two 

 rows, the two outermost ones larger and broader than the inner 

 ones ; all obtuse at the apex, and sprinkled with small glands, but 

 without black glands on the margins. Petals equal to or shorter 

 than the sepals. Stamens a little longer than the petals. Styles short, 

 abruptly hooked at the apex. Fruit a puri)lish-black pulpy berry, 

 but becoming nearly dry when it is quite ripe, imperfectly 3-celled, 

 with the placentas distinct. Plant glabrous, with the leaves yel- 

 lowish green, pale and slightly glaucous beneath, frequently tinged 

 with red. 



Tutsan. 



Prench, Androseme Officinale. German, Konrads Kravi. 



The specific name of this species of St. Jolm's Wort is said to be derived from 

 the two Greelj words signifying man and blood, in allusion to the dark-red juice which 

 exudes from the capsules when bruised. In accordance, therefore, with the " doctrine 

 of signatures," which regulated in many instances the practice of the ancient physicians, 

 the plant was applied to external wounds, sometimes, no doubt, with success, for the 

 whole tribe possesses stringent properties. One old practitioner calls the Tutsan 

 " Balm of the warrior's wound." The name Tutsan comes from the French, " Toute- 

 saine," " All-heal," on account of its medicinal reputation. It is also called " Park 

 Leaves," from being found in parks ; and in old English, " St. Peter's Wort." Gerarde 

 informs us that the bruised leaves are good for burns ; that a decoction of the seeds 

 drunk for forty days will take away agues, and cure sciatica. He adds : " The leaves 

 laid upon broken shins and scabbed legs heal them and many other hurts and griefs, 

 whereof it took its name ' Toute-saine,' of healing all things." In more modern times, 

 the plant has been recommended as a febrifuge ; but, notwithstanding the slightly 

 astringent properties it possesses, we incline to agree with the somewhat cynical lines 

 which say, — 



