148 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



The British species of this group are all herl)accous, with the 

 cymes of flowers commonly numerous, and united so as to form a 

 panicle or corymh. 



)^ SPECIES v.— HYPERICUM PERFORATUM. Linn. 



Plate CCLXVIII. 

 Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. VI. Ilyp. Tab. CCCXLIII. Fig. 5177. 



Stems stout, erect, corymhosely or paniculately branched, marked 

 with two longitudinal elevated lines. Leaves oblong, more or less 

 thickly marked with small pellucid dots, and having the principal 

 nerves also pellucid, appearing as semi-transparent lines when 

 viewed against the light, but not anastomosing. FloAvers numerous, 

 in small dense cymes arranged in a rather lax corymb or short 

 panicle. Sepals slightly unequal, lanceolate, acute, entire, or with 

 very inconspicuous cartilaginous denticulations towards the apex, 

 nearly destitute of black dots. Petals generally furnished with 

 black dots. Styles as long as the capsule. Capsule with each valve 

 having 2 vitta) or bands containing essential oil on the back. 



Var. a, gcnulna. 

 H. jjerfuratura, Jord. Boreau, Fl. du Centre de la Fr. ed. iii. Vol. II. p. 123. 



Leaves elliptical-oblong. 



Var. 3, anffust/folium. 



H. microphyllum, Jord. Boreau, Fl. du Centre de la Fr. ed. iii. Vol. II. p. 124. 



Leaves strapshaped-oblong. 



In bushy places and in hedgcbanks and chalky hills. Common 

 in England and the South of Scotland ; but rare in the Highlands 

 and Northern part of the latter country. Var. /3 appears to be not 

 uncommon. 



England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Late Summer. 



Stem 1 to 3 feet high, emitting roots only at the very base, 

 erect or ascending, wiiy, each internode furnished with two opposite 

 elevated lines, one coming from the base of each of the leaves 

 which spring from the apices of the internodes, and which conse- 

 quently change sides at each node. Leaves -^ to 1^ inch long, 

 varying much iu breadth and in the number of pellucid dots. 

 Lateral branches generally numerous, ascending, the upper ones 

 terminating in small compact cymes of bright yellow flowers, about 

 1 to Ij inch across ; these cymes are generally ari'anged in a corymb, 

 but sometimes form a short panicle, the difference depending on 



