i 44 FLOWERS OF THE ROADSIDES AND HEDGES 



sepals are erect, acute, and entire, the petals oblong, the flowers yellow, 

 the margins of the sepals entire, without glands, whilst there are black 

 dots on the petals. 



The petals are notched. The three styles equal the capsule, and 

 the stigmas are simple. The anthers are crowned with black glands. 



The plant is 18 in. in height in many cases. The flowering season 

 is from July to September. It is perennial, and can be increased by 

 division. 



The flowers are conspicuous and yet have no honey, and are 

 adapted for self-pollination. They contain plenty of pollen. There 

 are three groups of stamens united below, of different lengths, with 

 anthers directed upwards which open in quick centrifugal succession 

 outwards, and are immersed in pollen, the shortest opening first, the 

 longest last. There are 3 styles, which radiate outwards. The stigmas 

 developed at the same time are terminal, and on a level with the longest 

 anthers between the groups of stamens. The stamens (in bundles) 

 touch or are interwoven at the margin, and the stigmas may touch the 

 pollen-covered anthers. Insects settle on one of the 5 outspread petals, 

 and reach the anthers between two groups of stamens, and bring about 

 either cross-pollination if they touch the stigma first, or self-pollination 

 if they touch the anthers first. The petals and stamens later become 

 erect, and self-pollination follows in the absence of insect visitors. 



The visitors are Hymenoptera (Apidae, Tenthredinidse), Diptera 

 (Bombylidse, Empidae, Syrphidcc), Lepidoptera (Large Skipper, Hes- 

 pcria svk'anns, Meadow Brown, Satyrus Janira), Coleoptera (Chry 

 somelidce). 



The seeds of this plant are dispersed by its own mechanism. The 

 capsule is erect, opening at the top, splitting along divisions, and the 

 seeds are dispersed by breaking up of the valves, and to some extent 

 by the wind. The seeds are oblong or elliptic, netted, and dark brown. 



It is a humus-loving plant, and requires a humus soil. 



The fungus Melampsora hypericonini infests it. The beetles 

 Cht'vsoniela fucata, Cryptocephalus lo-punctatus, the moths Purple 

 Cloud (Cloantha perspicillaris), Black-veined Moth (Scoria de alb at a], 

 Treble -bar (Anailis plagiata], Nepticula septembrclla, Satyr Pug 

 (Eupitkecia Satyrata), Grapholite flypericana, Gracilaria acuoguttclla, 

 Ringed Carpet (Boarmia cinctaria\ the Homopteron Aphis papaverii, 

 and the gall-fly Cecidomyia serotina feed on it. 



Hypericum, Dioscorides, is from the Greek hyper, over, ereike, 

 heath, and perforatum (Latin) refers to the perforate leaves. 



Perforate St. John Wort is called Amber, Balm of Warriors 



