OBDEB 18. HYPERICACE^E. 047 



persistent ; petals mostly oblique or convolute in the bud ; stamens few or many, 

 polyadelphous ; anthers versatile ; ovary compound, with styles united or separate, 

 becoming in fruit a 1 -celled capsule with parietal placentas, or 3 to 5-celled when 

 the dissepiments reach the center. Seeds exalbuminous, minute. (Illustrations in 

 Fig. 69, 278, 389, 390.) 



Genera 15, species 276, very generally distributed, presenting a great variety of habit, and 

 flourishing in all kinds of localities. The juico of many species is considered purgative and 

 fcbrifugal. 



8epals4. Petals 4, obliqnc, yellow ASCYKUM 1 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, oblique, yellow HYPJCBICUJI 2 



equilateral, purplish ELODEA 8 



1. ASCtRUM, L. ST. PETER'S WORT. (Etymology uncertain.) Sep- 

 als 4, the two outer usually very large and foliaceous ; petals 4, oblique, 

 convolute \ filaments slightly united at base into several parcels ; styles 

 2 4, mostly distinct ; capsule 1 -celled. Plants suffruticous. Lvs, 

 punctate with black dots. Fls. pale yellow 1 or 3 terminating each 

 branch. Pedicels bibracteolate. 



The outer pair of sepals very large, ovnte. StyleslorS ...Nos.l 2 



still larger, orbicular. Styles 3 Nos. 3, 4 



small, like the two inner. Styles 3 No. 6 



1 A. Crux-Andreae L. ST. ANDREW'S CROSS. Branches many, suberect, an- 

 cipital above ; Ivs. linear-oblong, obtuse ; outer sep. twice longer than the pedicel ; 2 

 bracteoles a little below the flower. Sandy woods, N. J. to Ga, and La. Sts. 1 to 

 2 f high, with brown, scaly bark below. Lvs. 6 to ] 2" long, minutely dottod, 

 sessile, smaller ones axillary. Cymes leafy. The persistent, ovate sepals close 

 after flowering. Jn., Jl. 



/? AXGUSTIFOLIA Nutt. Lvs. oblong-linear, crowded; outer sepals acute, tho 

 two bracteoles close to tho flower. Car. and Ga. (Feay.) Looks very differ- 

 ent from a, from tho smallness of its numerous Ivs., which are 3 to 6" long, 

 1' wide. 



2 A. pumilum MX. Low, trailing at base ; Ivs. oval and obovate, obtuse, sessile ; 

 outer sepals shorter than the sknder pedicel, inner sepal ; bracteoles 0. Ga. and 

 Fla., in dry, piny barrens. Much branched, branches a few inches long. Lvs. 

 about 3" by 2," often smaller. Cymes exserted, the pedicels 6 to 10" long. 

 Pet. rather larger than the sepals. 



3 A. stans MX. St. erect, ancipital; Ivs. oblong, sessile, and half-clasping, obtuse; 

 caps, ovate, acute. Swamps in pine barrens, N. J. to Fla, and La. Sts. 1 to 3f 

 high, straight, winged throughout, branched above, usually simple at base and 

 shaggy with looso bark. Lvs. 10 to 15" long, J as wide. Outer sepals orbicular, 

 subcordate, 6" diam., inner lance-linear. Petals unequal, ovate, acute, a little 

 longer than the sepals. Sty. 3, distinct, short. Ju. Aug. 



4 A. amplexicaule MX. St. erect, terete below; IKS. broadly ovate, cordate, 

 clasping; caps, oblong. Ga. and Fla. Sts. 1 to 2f high, dichotonously branched 

 above, branches somewhat 2-edged. Lvs. 8 to 12" long, as broad. Outer 

 sepals nearly round, 5'' broad, the petals longer. 



5 A. micros epalum Torr. and Gr. Bushy; st. scarcely edged; Ivs. oblong and 

 oblong-linear, crowded ; sep. oblong-linear, much shorter than the obovatc, un- 

 equal petals; sty. 3, long, distinct. Ga. and Fla. Very different in aspect from 

 the others, with crooked, straggling stems. Lvs. 2 to 4" long, 1" wide (in a 

 variety twice as large). Pedicels longer than the calyx. Fls. 9" broad. Sty. 

 filiform, as long as the oblong capsule. May. 



2. HYPliRICUM, L. ST. JOHN'S-WORT. (Derivation unknown.) 

 Sepals 5, connected at base, subequal, leaf-like ; petals 5, oblique ; 

 stamens Co (sometimes few), mostly unite:! at base into 3 5 parcels;, 



