ST. JOHN S-WORT 



Hypericum sphaerocarpum Michx. 



Summer "Saint John His Wort" is the old termin- 



Hillsides, sunny woods oloo-y : the old English name "wort" simply 



means plant. The Hypericnni is St. John's 

 Plant for no particular reason, though many species bloom on St. John's 

 Day, June 24. 



The Hypericums are flowers of high summer. In the long days and 

 bright sunshine they reach their best growth. Their leafy stems and 

 many-flowered heads are bright along the roads and in the woods where 

 they are a special part of a colorful midsummer flora. 



The flowers of St. John's-wort are bright yellow and thin petaled 

 with that same sunshine-glint which the buttercujjs have. The five petals, 

 however, are thinner and silkier than those of buttercups, and they stand 

 out in a star shape, either slightly cupped or flat, or the petals bend 

 backward while the splendid cluster of bright yellow, curling stamens 

 stands outward to invite flying insects to stop for a while, sip nectar, 

 and fertilize the flower with pollen from another ]flant. 



St. John's-wort has pairs of smooth, untoothed, opposite leaves which 

 are rather thin and somewhat clasping the slightly ribbed stem. The 

 leaves are dryish with a prominent midrib standing out on the underside. 



Hypericum sphaeromrpinn has larger llovrors and a simpler stem 

 than the more bushy Hypericum perfomtum. The latter has many small 

 flowers which are deep yellow, black-dottod along the fluted margins. The 

 oval, slightly tapered leaves have tiny ])alo dots scatterod u])on thorn. 



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